Just saw the 1993 Holyfield/Bowe paraglider fight on ESPN Classic

[Auggie]

That was surreal. From wikipedia:

In what is considered by many sporting historians as one of the most bizarre moments in boxing's history, during round seven the crowd got off their feet and many people started to run for cover and yell.

Holyfield took his eyes off Bowe for one moment and then told Bowe to look up to the skies. What they saw was a man in a parachute flying dangerously close to them.

The man almost entered the ring, but his parachute had gotten entangled in the lights and he landed on the ropes and apron of the ring, and he was then pulled into the crowd, where he was beaten by members of Bowe's entourage.

Bowe's pregnant wife, Judy, fainted and had to be taken to the hospital from the arena.

Twenty minutes later, calm was restored and Holyfield went on to recover his world heavyweight titles with a close 12 round majority decision.

The man who parachuted down to the middle of the ring became known as The Fan Man and the fight itself became known as the Fan Man Fight. His victory over Bowe that year helped Holyfield being named as ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year for 1993.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evander_Holyfield

Between rounds, television coverage showed Jesse Jackson escorting Bowe's wife to an ambulance.

[H2O Man]

1. Strange, indeed.

I remember it well. Everyone in the living room where I was watching began yelling, "Kill him! Kill him!" Some of the "live" audience either heard us, or had the same thought.

I believe that incident changed the probably outcome of the fight.

[wyldwolf]

3. It did change the outcome. It allowed Holyfield to rest

Damn I miss epic heavyweight fights!

[H2O Man]

8. Right.

His corner was prepared, too, and kept him warm. Bowe's corner was unfocused, and allowed him to "cool off" too long.

[JonLP24]

5. Off-topic

I wasn't expecting a preview (I don't think it's "high profile" as other fights you preview) but was curious on your thoughts of the David Haye-Chisora fight this weekend. It has been generating a lot of interest due to a brawl between the fighters so it is viewed as a "grudge match". I also believe this is Haye's first fight since being dominated by Klitschko.

[H2O Man]

7. Good question.

I think it is an interesting bout. I like David, and know him casually. It is not the fight that I'd have selected for his first on the comeback trail. Chisora is a solid, big heavyweight, with both physical strength and speed. Plus, there is the emotional component -- he strongly dislikes David as a human being.

David is predicting a second-round knockout victory. But, you have likely read, he is coming in at the lightest weight he's been at in quite a while. Clearly, he is prepared to go more rounds, and that weight indicates he is prepared to do a lot of movement on his feet.

Haye has to be ready to counter Chisora's attempts to set the pace -- he wants it fast, to tire David out -- and to avoid getting hit in the body during the first four to six rounds. If he can time his foe, he could definitely hurt him, maybe put him on the deck. But the size difference suggests that Haye is unlikely to get an early, "snap" knockout ..... though it isn't impossible.

The mutual contempt they hold each other in, increases the chances of "brawling" in the ring. While the fans might enjoy that, it would not favor David. At those times they are engaged in in-fighting, Haye has two options: first, moving on his feet, to one side or the other, to use those angles to deliver short, hard punches; or two, to try to physical push the opponent straight back (think of Evander and Tyson). That tires a guy like Chisora out. The problem is that exerting the energy required will potentially tire David, who has a history of losing steam late in fights.

I want David to win. I think he has a good chance, though I slightly favor Chisora. David needed some laps around the track before taking this bout, in my opinion. But money talks, and this will be a good pay-day for both men. The winner gets an even bigger one next.

[wyldwolf]

2. And, coincidently, I saw an Evander Holyfield vs Wladimir Klitschko simulation on Youtube...

Evander Holyfield circa 1997 vs a 2010 Wladimir Klitschko.

... and the infamous parachute clip

[JonLP24]

4. LOL

Bizarre things that happen in the ring is one of the interesting things about boxing.

I remember seeing the ads for Holyfield-Tyson II on TV, it built up interest between me, brother, and my dad. We didn't watch it but the next morning we couldn't wait to check out the newspaper to see who won. I couldn't believe what I was reading & neither did my dad. Totally unexpected.

Awhile ago I was watching random boxing clips, there was one of someone (I can't remember who) punching Mayweather in the crouch then a riot broke out in the ring.

[H2O Man]

9. Zab "Super" Judah.

[Auggie]

6. James Miller, AKA The Fan Man: Major D-Bag

From Wiki:

Other "stunts":

In January 1994, Miller flew into a Denver Broncos-Los Angeles Raiders NFL football game at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. He was arrested for interfering with a sporting event.

After the game, Raiders defensive end Howie Long said that had Miller landed in the stands, the physical assault he received in Las Vegas (Holyfield/Bowe fight) would have paled in comparison as a result of Raider Nation's notorious raucousness. "Magnify that beating tenfold. That's what he would have gotten here," Long said.

In February 1994, he skydived into the middle of a soccer match in Bolton, England. After serving a prison sentence in the United Kingdom Miller was deported by British authorities.

Death:

Miller was reported missing on September 22, 2002. On March 9, 2003, a group of hunters bushwhacking through the woods on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska found a decomposing body identified as that of James Miller.

Police said he had chosen the remote Resurrection Pass Trail in Chugach National Forest, veering deep off-trail to a spot that might not have been discovered for years, if ever. Miller had hanged himself from a tree, and the death was ruled a suicide.

Miller had been suffering from a debilitating heart disease and was overwhelmed by medical bills. Miller left behind a pregnant girlfriend who gave birth to a son, Logan, on February 14, 2003.

LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Miller_(parachutist)

[NYC_SKP]

10. YouTube of it Right Here::: Also, WTF is wrong with Bowe's people beating him up.

Fucking violent fucking assholes need to be in prison.

[H2O Man]

11. Respectfully disagree.

They were right to pummel him.