BOXING: Moorer faces call for rematch

THE FORMER world heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield, who retired in April after doctors learned that he had a heart condition, wants to return to the ring for a rematch with Michael Moorer, the man who took his titles from him.

Holyfield lost his World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation titles to Moorer in a 12-round decision two months ago but now claims to have been healed after visiting Benny Hinn, a faith healer, in Philadelphia earlier this month.

'I'm going to fight,' the Atlanta Journal-Constitution yesterday reported Holyfield as saying. 'I've prayed on it for a long time, and if God healed me, what's the point in sitting?'

After the Moorer fight, the the 31-year-old former champion was diagnosed as suffering from a non-compliant left ventricle and a hole between the upper chambers of his heart. Tests conducted last week at Atlanta's Crawford Long Hospital apparently showed some improvement. But details have been limited.

Teddy Atlas, Moorer's manager, said a rematch would be considered but added: 'I want some explanation or apology. After that fight Holyfield's doctor (Ronald Stephens) said he fought in cardiac arrest. How can he be all right now? My feelings, and Michael's, too, were that the victory was tarnished by those suggestions.'

The Atlanta newspaper quoted boxing officials from Nevada and New Jersey as saying Holyfield would not be allowed to box in their states unless he underwent tests more involved than the routine pre- fight electrocardiogram.

Larry Hazzard, chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, said, 'We certainly would take him through a more intensive battery of tests.'

'This will be handled differently because he's had a problem,' Marc Ratner, chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission said. 'Our medical advisory board will have to come up with a battery of tests. We can do that.'