Evander Holyfield vs Ossie Ocasio

Evander Holyfield retained the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation cruiserweight championships by stopping Ossie Ocasio in the 11th round at the Parking de Nouveau Port in Saint-Tropez, France, on August 15, 1987. The contest, promoted by Michel Acaries’ AMI Production in association with Dan Duva’s Main Events, was scheduled for 15 rounds. Holyfield weighed 189 pounds and entered with an unbeaten record of 15 victories, 11 by knockout. Ocasio, a former WBA champion and the International Boxing Federation’s leading challenger, weighed 190 pounds and was listed at 21-4-1. British referee John Coyle halted the bout after one minute 24 seconds of the 11th round.

Holyfield had become WBA champion by defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi over 15 demanding rounds in July 1986 and had since stopped Henry Tillman and Rickey Parkey. The victory over Parkey, achieved in three rounds three months before the Saint-Tropez engagement, had added the IBF championship to Holyfield’s holdings. Ocasio earned his opportunity on the same Las Vegas programme by taking a disputed decision over Qawi. He had fought largely on the retreat, tying Qawi up repeatedly, and was penalised for excessive holding, but two judges nevertheless gave him the verdict. The result was sufficiently controversial for the IBF initially to retain Qawi as its leading contender before confirming Ocasio’s position.

Ocasio adopted much the same cautious method against Holyfield. He moved away from the champion, sought to interrupt the exchanges with clinches and seldom remained at close quarters longer than necessary. Holyfield advanced behind his left hand, working patiently rather than spending his strength in a hurried attempt to force an early finish. The challenger was experienced, physically strong and difficult to catch cleanly when he concentrated upon defence. Holyfield therefore had to cut down the ring, bring Ocasio towards the ropes and strike before the Puerto Rican could hold or turn away.

The champion established his authority in the opening rounds. All three judges gave Holyfield the second, third and fourth, while two also awarded him the first and the third scored it even. Holyfield was doing the leading, landing the firmer punches and preventing Ocasio’s defensive tactics from reducing the fight to a succession of harmless clinches. Ocasio gave ground but remained composed, keeping his gloves high and attempting to make Holyfield reach with the right hand. He occasionally answered while the champion was coming forward, but his work was too infrequent to offset Holyfield’s pressure and greater volume.

The middle portion was less one-sided, although Holyfield remained in control. Fernando Viso scored the fifth and sixth rounds even, while Contimanza Amadeo made the sixth level. Antonio Requena gave both rounds to the champion and, in fact, did not award Ocasio a single completed round. Holyfield continued to press, mixing straight punches with hooks and uppercuts when he could bring Ocasio to a halt. Ocasio’s resistance lay principally in his ability to spoil, step away and absorb isolated blows without becoming involved in sustained trading. The challenger was surviving comfortably enough, but he was not doing sufficient offensive work to change the course of the contest.

Holyfield again took command in the seventh. Ocasio produced his best spell during the eighth and ninth rounds, when Holyfield’s pursuit became less exact, and the challenger found opportunities to score while moving. Viso awarded Ocasio the eighth, and Amadeo gave him the ninth; the other marks in those rounds were even or in Holyfield’s favour. The champion was not in serious difficulty, but Ocasio’s awkwardness had carried the contest farther than any of Holyfield’s previous title defences. Holyfield recovered his rhythm in the tenth, driving forward with renewed purpose and placing Ocasio under steadier pressure. All three officials awarded the round to the champion.

At the end of ten rounds, there was no doubt about the result should the fight continue to the scorecards. Viso and Amadeo each had Holyfield leading 99-94, while Requena had him ahead 100-92. Viso credited Holyfield with seven rounds, Ocasio with one and scored two even. Amadeo had Holyfield winning seven, Ocasio one and two even. Requena gave Holyfield eight rounds and marked the remaining two even. Ocasio had therefore succeeded in extending the champion, but he had not mounted a sustained challenge to Holyfield’s hold upon either title.

The finish came in the middle of the 11th. Holyfield caught Ocasio with a hard right to the cheek and the challenger staggered backwards. Holyfield followed with a left uppercut and another right, sending Ocasio to the floor. Ocasio rose after taking an eight-count, but his legs had not recovered, and he was unable to keep the champion away. Holyfield drove him to the ropes and struck with both hands, landing solid combinations while Ocasio offered no effective reply. Coyle stepped between them at 1:24 and stopped the contest before the challenger could sustain further punishment.

The victory raised Holyfield’s professional record to 16-0 and constituted the third defence of his WBA championship and the first defence of the IBF title he had taken from Parkey. It was not one of his quickest performances, but it demonstrated patience against a seasoned opponent determined to deny him clean exchanges. On the same programme, Qawi stopped former IBF champion Lee Roy Murphy in the sixth round, establishing himself once more as Holyfield’s principal rival. Holyfield and Qawi met again in December, when the younger champion completed his command of the cruiserweight division by stopping Qawi in four rounds.

I’ve never regarded Evander Holyfield’s win over Ossie Ocasio as one of his finest performances, but it showed another side of him. Holyfield had already beaten Dwight Muhammad Qawi over 15 rounds, stopped Henry Tillman and taken the IBF belt from Rickey Parkey. By August 1987, he was the best cruiserweight.

Ocasio earned his chance through a disputed decision over Qawi and brought the same negative tactics to Saint-Tropez. He backed away, clinched and tried to stop Holyfield building rhythm. It was awkward rather than competitive.

What impressed me was Holyfield’s patience. He kept pressing, winning rounds and refusing to become reckless. After ten, he led 99-94, 99-94 and 100-92. In the 11th, a right hand hurt Ocasio before a left uppercut and another right dropped him. Holyfield then finished the job on the ropes. Not pretty, but championship work.