Boxing: King promises very heavy night extravagant

Don King has promoted dozens of interesting fights in the past but tonight's heavyweight extravaganza at Madison Square Garden in New York promises to be something very special.

Don King has promoted dozens of interesting fights in the past but tonight's heavyweight extravaganza at Madison Square Garden in New York promises to be something very special.

King has pulled together 10 heavyweights with a variety of often bewildering highlights during their careers for one night of action or chaos that is unlikely ever to be equalled.

In the nominal main event, Boston's mediocre John Ruiz defends his World Boxing Association heavyweight title against the Polish emigré Andrew Golota in a fight that is sure to be packed full of incident and fouls. Chris Byrd, a gentle fellow who has another job as a preacher, defends his International Boxing Federation title against New York's Jameel McCline in a fight that will look like a re-enactment of the Biblical struggle between David and Goliath. McCline is six inches taller and 70 pounds heavier but is expected to lose.

At 42, Evander Holyfield meets perennial contender Larry Donald in a 10-round final eliminator for whatever championship belt Donald King can find the winner.

There is also the long overdue and eagerly anticipated return to the ring of boxing's true wild man, Oliver McCall, who fights somebody called DaVarryl Williamson over 10 rounds. The winner is also guaranteed a title fight in the not too distant future.

And last but not least is the continuing ring rehabilitation of a complicated character, Hasim Rahman, against a fighter from Australia called Kali Meehan.