Holyfield And Oquendo Both Shine In Los Angeles Press Conference

28.09.06 – LOS ANGELES–Four-time world heavyweight champion Evander Hoylfield, who turns age 44 on Ocotber 19, teamed up with his November 10 San Antonio Alamodome PPV TV opponent, Fast Fres Oquendo and with co-promoters Murad Muhammad and George Hutson (Real Deal Events LLC) to put on a smashing press conference Thursday in the LA suburb of Carson.

This one, designed to hype the big heavyweight fight which will be distributed by Fox Sports on your local cable operator and satellite TV outlets, had various dramatic elements.

To start was the unique venue, The Rock Boxing Center Of Excellence. This state of the art boxing training facility is adjacent to and is affiliated with Mision Ebenezer Family Church. That made it a fitting setting for the respected Holyfield, whose deep religious beliefs are well documented and whose dedication to being a role model for troubled youths is also public knowledge.

One such young man is 16-year-old Chris Stewart, an Ingelwood resident who was shot in the streets recently by gang members. Fortunately he was shot in the leg and survived. Now the teenager is trying his hand at boxing and striving to stay off the mean streets.

“I took photos with both Evander Holyfield and Fres Oquendo,” Stewart said. “I was amazed. And Murad Muhammad had me sit at the head table. It was quite a surprise and a thrill for me. Mr. Holyfield is a good role model.”

“Can you imagine what a young man like that thinks about meeting a true and great world champion like Evander? That might help turns this young man’s life around. It might be the young man’s latest and greatest inspiration. Who else can counsel such a young man like Evander can?” Muuhammad said. “The young man was in the Bloods and he got shot by the Crips and now boxing may help save him.”

For a Hollywood touch, there was a special celebrity guest, young fighter Grady Brewer who just upset Steve Forbes to become the 2006 Tournament Of Contenders champion on the nationally-televised TV series. Brewer also won a $500,000 purse, leading Muhammad to call him “the Half Million Dollar Man.”

Fox Sports was duly represented by VP Doug Levy who said that Fox is delighted to be partnering with Muhammad’s M & M Sports and Real Deal Events LLC, Holyfield’s own company, to present the big fight show in the Alamodome on November 10.

“We are thrilled to be involved with Evander on his historic quest to become the first-ever five-time world heavyweight champion,” Levy said. “What Evander is doing just a great dramatic story and we know that Fres is a real champion in his own right. We will be presenting this bout in high definition TV and it will be a tremendous show and a tremendous night for boxing.”

OTHER FLASH QUOTES FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE:

EVANDER HOLYFIELD: “I think that what I am doing, at my age, will inspire other people not to quit in their lives. Fres and I both want to win but only one of us can win this fight. For a good price of $44.95 you will be able to tune in and really find out who really wants it most.”

MURAD MUHAMMAD: “Evander is a man on a mission. This is history in the making, it really is. America has lost all the world heavyweight titles and Evander Holyfield is the man who can bring the titles back to the shores of America. He is not a black hope or a white hope. He is the American hope.

“And do not discount Oquendo. Oquendo is like Goliath. But Evander does not take the easy road in life. He never has and he can’t start taking the easy road now. He doesn’t know how to quit and he has never lost a fight. Yes, he has had setbacks, not losses, and he comes back stronger than before. He doesn’t know how to lose or how to quit.

“Evander knows he has to slay Goliath but Evander says he will do what David did, he will take a slingshot and pebble and shoot Goliath right in the eye,

FAST FRES OQUENDO: “I thank God for this opportunity. I am fighting a legend. I never dreamed of this when I was a 19-year-old training in a gym in Chicago near the housing project where I lived. This is an opportunity and a mountain that I have to climb.”

GEORGE HUTSON: “We’re just grateful to have to have the opportunity to have such a great partner as Fox. I want to thank Doug Levy and everyone at Fox. I’m like Doug, though. I will only talk for one minute and then let Murad do all the rest.”