Saturday, March 06, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ROYCE FEOUR: Opportunity knocks for unbeaten heavyweight Mesi

If undefeated Joe Mesi is going to have a real impact on the heavyweight division, he's making his move at the right time.

With the retirement of Lennox Lewis, who was considered the champion no matter what the alphabet belts say, the situation is wide open for a new heavyweight king.

But since the reality of boxing today is split championships and belts from various sanctioning bodies, the 30-year-old Mesi's prospects are even greater because so many titles are available.

Lewis' retirement left the WBC championship vacant. That title will go to the winner of the Vitali Klitschko-Corrie Sanders fight April 24 at the MGM Grand Garden.

Since Roy Jones has decided to return to light heavyweight and not defend his WBA heavyweight title, John Ruiz becomes WBA champ. He is scheduled to defend against Fres Oquendo on April 17 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

IBF heavyweight champion Chris Byrd is also scheduled to defend his belt against Andrew Golota on promoter Don King's April 17 card. The fact that Golota is getting a title shot is disgraceful, and a whole column could be done on that ridiculous issue.

Meanwhile, Mesi (28-0) will meet former IBF cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov on March 13 on the undercard of the Shane Mosley-Winky Wright 154-pound unification card at Mandalay Bay.

It's a tough fight for Mesi, of Buffalo, N.Y., but if he gets by Jirov -- and he is a minus-190 favorite to do so -- he would enhance his credentials for a heavyweight title shot. If Sanders, Oquendo and Golota are getting cracks at a title, why not Mesi?

Mesi is coming off a mixed-results 10-round majority decision over Monte Barrett on Dec. 6 at Madison Square Garden. Mesi looked good in winning the first six rounds, but faded and lost the last four to barely hold on to win the decision.

Mesi said he didn't train properly for the fight, and that he suffered a cut over his right eye that required six stitches. He cut himself opening the door of his truck.

"I had no sparring. I didn't feel safe (sparring)," Mesi said. "The truth is, I didn't do much roadwork, thinking they may cancel the fight. A lot of it was being overconfident, coming off two first-round knockouts.

"(Barrett) deserves a lot of credit. I was caught off guard. I am embarrassed to say that, because I'm known for my work ethic and coming in prepared."

Mesi had stopped DaVarryl Williamson and Robert Davis in the first round and Jason Curry in the second round in his three previous fights, so he certainly wasn't getting many actual rounds in the ring heading into the Barrett fight.

Mesi has been brought along slowly, but he feels he has made good progress for someone who didn't put on boxing gloves until he was 20.

His promoter, Tony Holden, quite naturally says Mesi has a bright future if he keeps winning. Holden has had discussions with the operators of Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, about hosting a major Mesi fight in early August. Mesi has attracted crowds of 15,000 to arenas in Buffalo, and Holden envisions a huge crowd for an outdoor event there.

Holden said a fight against Mike Tyson or a Mesi challenge against the Klitschko-Sanders winner are possibilities at Wilson Stadium. Holden said Tyson has expressed interest in fighting Mesi, but questions whether Tyson would go through with the fight.

"I know boxing is struggling right now," Holden said. "Joe is exactly what the sport needs. The kid is a good puncher, a heavyweight and a role model. He is a special case in boxing."

Royce Feour's boxing column is published Saturday. He can be reached by phone at 383-0354, fax at 383-4676 or e-mail at rfeour@reviewjournal.com.