Champ won't rank fight before fight

      Evander Holyfield's trilogy with Riddick Bowe is one of boxing's best. Whether Holyfield-Tyson can step up to that level is still to be answered.
      Even Holyfield said he is not sure.
      "We don't know if the fight is going to be a classic until it's over and even then, it isn't for me to say if it is or isn't," Holyfield said. "I fight. It's (the media's) job to analyze it and rank it. However the fight goes Saturday, I know one thing: I'm going to win."
      Holyfield, who suffered two of his three losses to Bowe, also didn't want to compare Tyson and Bowe as punchers, except to say he got hit much more frequently by Bowe than by Tyson.
      He declined even to put Tyson's abilities into perspective as far as other fighters he has faced.
      "Tyson is definitely a tough fighter, but I can't say he's the toughest fighter I've had," Holyfield said. "But he will definitely bring the best at you that you can handle."
      -- NO BETS -- Holyfield is a 2-1 underdog at the MGM Grand sports book, but said he has no plans to bet on himself despite his belief he is going to win again. Holyfield is plus 160, and Tyson is minus 200.
      "I don't have to bet on myself," Holyfield said. "I know I'm going to win, so I don't to take advantage of them by betting on myself."
      For those not so sure, the MGM has a number of wagers available. It is a minus 140 wager on the fight going at least 6 1/2 rounds, even money it will not.
      The MGM has Tyson at 5-8 to win by knockout and 6-5 to win by decision. It has Holyfield at 2-1 to win by knockout and 3-1 to take a decision.
      The MGM bumped its odds on a draw up to 10-1, but that is still lower than at most books.
      "People bet the draw regardless of the price," said Dennis Dahl, race and sports book director at the MGM. "And there is so little money bet on the draw that it is kind of like a safety net for us."
      -- CLOSED CIRCUIT -- The fight is sold out, but there are 13 closed circuit locations in Clark County accounting for an additional 8,000 seats which will show the fight, including one Spanish language broadcast.
      The MGM will have 3,000 closed circuit seats available at a cost of $75. It will be seen at the Orleans, the Hard Rock, the Tropicana, the Flamingo Hilton, the Four Queens and the Plaza for $60. It is at the Silver Nugget in North Las Vegas and Buffalo Bill's in Primm for $35 and at three locations in Laughlin.
      In addition, the Beach Night Club will show it in Spanish for $50.
      -- NO CROWD SUPPORT -- In the first fight between the two, which Holyfield won by 11th round TKO, the crowd was mostly supporting Holyfield. But Holyfield said he draws no inspiration from the cheers of the crowd.
      "The crowd being behind me doesn't make a big difference," Holyfield said. "The most important thing is that God's behind me. You've just go to get in there and perform. Everyone loves a winner, and I appreciate that."