This day in boxing. A look back.

[Spicoli]

Absolutely love this fight. A career realization after delays. I'll never forget Holyfield being unanimously written off in the lead up and openly labeled "shot". Now in hindsight all you hear is how Mike was shot. Odd sport this boxing.

[Spicoli]

What is it with Holyfield and November

11/04 Alex Stewart I
11/23 Bert Cooper
11/13 Riddick Bowe I
11/06 Riddick Bowe II
11/04 Riddick Bowe III
11/09 Mike Tyson I
11/08 Michael Moorer II
11/13 Lennox Lewis II
11/13 Larry Donald
11/10 Fres Oquendo

[Spicoli]

Stumbled back into this rematch simply for the entire HBO retro rebroadcast pre and post fight. As well as a guy in Starling who really seemed to be screwed over in the big picture when looking back. They said it perfectly with 'self made man' and Champ vs a young man in Breland who was stroked, steered and riding that tireless Olympic hype train of "the next". To the point that Breland was actually the favorite here after being knocked out by Starling . Starling may have been a bit before his time with style and self promotion.The road got twisted for Starling in his next fight with Molinares (notice how they just disappeared him ??) with a clear-cut case of the WBA being crooked and making sure "the right guy" eventually got their strap. Very interesting time at 147 and how it all played out. And in case it hasn't been said enough...God we/boxing misses HBO

[Master]

Very interesting interviews and Larry Merchant at the end talking about boxing stars being marketed and not working their way to the title. Breland was an Olympic star whereas Starling had to face hard fighters to get to the title losing to top fighters like Donald Curry.

Starling wanted to face and called out a young Julio Ceaser Chavez.

I was a Lloyd Honeyghan fan after he destroyed Curry but he eventually lost to Breland and Starling after his peak. Good days.

[Spicoli]

Looking at the activity and comp level of young Toney should humble every young "star". Can you imagine Toney at 160 today? A division where Danny Garcia is now likely to fight for a trinket and "champ" Charlo has not fought in 2 years

[Master]

James Toney was a throwback to the old fighters and he was a young man himself at the time. He had natural skills that he was blessed with but then so did Nunn.

Can not believe PPV were still around then.

[TitoFan]

May 12, 2001: Trinidad KO's William Joppy for the WBA middleweight title.