By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
(NJ State representative)

Even with a 25 Million-dollar fight offer from WBA Heavyweight Champ Roy Jones Jr. and his promoter Murad Muhammad supposedly on the table it looks like Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis will give Vitali Klitschko a rematch in December on HBO. The two big questions to be seen: Has the age finally caught up to Lewis, and how will Klitschko's injured (several cuts) left eye hold up after absorbing more punishment? Vitali missed his golden opportunity in this last championship fight as Lewis was totally unprepared and in horrible condition. This won't happen again and Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis will get his knockout victory this time.

It's a shame that IBF Heavyweight Champion Chris Byrd doesn't command the respect that he truly deserves. Or does he? Lennox Lewis refuses to fight him, as do most of the bigger names in the Heavyweight division. A "REAL" champion wouldn't duck anyone. Word is that Byrd may be fighting in September, with tough Fres Oquendo as the opponent.

Good fight card on HBO this coming Saturday July 12th. The main event features WBC & WBA Welterweight Champion Ricardo Mayorga taking on former champ Vernon Forrest in a rematch from the January destruction that saw Mayorga take the championship away from Forrest with a devastating 3rd round knockout victory. Mayorga says this time it won't last two rounds! If Forrest follows his game plan and doesn't look to out-slug the hard hitting Mayorga I think Vernon Forrest with regain his welterweight title with a 12 round decision. The co-feature will have former Jr. Welterweight Champion Zab Judah taking on hated rival DeMarcus "chop-chop" Corley for the WBO Championship belt.

Former 2-time Jr. Middleweight Champion Fernando Vargas (22-2, 20KO's) returns to HBO on July 26th in a highly anticipated bout against #1 ranked WBC contender Fitz Vanderpool (24-4-4, 13 KO's) at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. The arena, which holds over 6,200 people, is already sold-out.

Congratulations go out to 4-time Heavyweight World Champion Evander Holyfield on his July 1st wedding to Candi Calvana Smith in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Also Congratulations and God Bless to Delaware promoter Nick Tiberi and his wife Deanna on the birth of their newborn baby daughter Jeanna Marie on June 24th. Mother and baby are doing well.

That's it for this week in boxing: any comments or questions concerning fights, fighters, etc. I can be reached here at "Sportslore" or via e-mail at RBFNJMIKE@aol.com, keep the faith and never give up - Mike.