Holyfield has believers, not doubters in his corner

By John Whisler
San Antonio Express-News Staff Writer

HOUSTON — Tim Hallmark tries to tune it all out. All the negativity. All the criticism. All the people who say Evander Holyfield should stick to preaching and hang up the gloves, for good.
Hallmark hears it. But after 20 years as Holyfield's strength and fitness trainer, he knows not to let it affect him.

"They're not on the inner circle," Hallmark said of the critics. "They don't know what I know, see what I see."

What Hallmark sees is the same thing everyone else in Holyfield's camp sees — a 44-year-old athlete in a 28-year-old body, a fighter whose only motivation is becoming undisputed heavyweight champion of the world again. The way he was in 1990 when he beat Buster Douglas.

And if they don't see it, they're no longer employed.

A native of Atlanta, Holyfield has always trained in Houston, where he maintains a second home. At Willie Savannah's boxing gym on the city's southwest side, Holyfield has been preparing for Friday's showdown against Fres Oquendo at the Alamodome.

On this morning, when Team Holyfield gathers in a circle and clasps hands in prayer, there are no weak links.

Only believers.

Hallmark is at the top of that list. He thinks the New York State Athletic Commission, which banned Holyfield from fighting in the state because of diminished skills after a loss to Larry Donald two years ago at Madison Square Garden, made a mistake.

"If I thought he looked old and couldn't defend himself, I'd be the first one to jump in and tell him it was time to stop," Hallmark said, insisting that it isn't the paycheck that keeps him from saying it.

But he hasn't advised Holyfield to quit, Hallmark says, simply because there's no reason. Before Holyfield's last fight against Jeremy Bates on Aug. 18 in Dallas, Hallmark said Holyfield came back too soon after surgeries to both shoulders and hadn't been himself.

That meant Holyfield couldn't participate in the usual rigorous workouts that have become a Hallmark trademark — a combination of weight training, sparring and plyometrics, a type of exercise that uses explosive movements to develop muscular power.

"We went into a lot of fights where Evander's body just wasn't able to do what we wanted it to do," Hallmark said. "But after the loss to Donald, he was able to rest for 21 months. Now, he's back to where he used to be. This is the best camp he's ever had."

And most harmonious. Ronnie Shields, Holyfield's trainer, says there hasn't been any of the sniping and back-biting that went on between his predecessors, Don Turner and Kenny Weldon, who couldn't agree on Holyfield's training methods.

Turner and Weldon thought Holyfield should retire, and got fired for thinking it.

Shields, who trained Holyfield from 1988-92 before rejoining the team in 2004, said he advised Holyfield to quit after the Donald fight. But it was only then, in his first fight back with the former champ, that he learned of the surgeries.

Standing ringside, watching Holyfield go toe-to-toe with sparring partner Dominick Guinn, a 31-year-old world-ranked heavyweight, Shields said he no longer worries.

"If you lead the kind of lifestyle Evander leads, and train the way he trains, that allows you to continue competing at a high level," Shield said. "He's better than any heavyweight out there right now."

Guinn wouldn't go quite that far. He said it all depended on which of the four champions Holyfield fights. But he said "The Real Deal" should be taken seriously.

"If you didn't know it, you'd never guess he's 44," Guinn said. "I wouldn't bet against him."

At least good to see that young Evander is talking the talk, and that the people in the corner are talking the talk. Interesting to see how Dominic Guinn's career has nosedived into being a mere sparring partner for a 44-year-old, even if he is a living ring legend. Even that win over the A-force Audley Harrison has failed to catapult him into the HW contender status. Anyhow, least EH is showing some fight, and looking forward to see him show off the skills against Oquendo.

That makes 2 of us ~ ;).

Caught a glimpse of him in the gym today, he looked sharp, people are going to be amazed at his hand speed.. His jab is nice and quick and the 3-4 punch combinations are coming of nice . I look for a real good performance from Holyfield . However Oquindo can be tricky, and is a bit awkward is still see Evander taking him out in about 4 rounds .

. Heavyweights with hand speed are becoming extinct.. Its nice to see Holyfield back in top form ! O0