'Big' Trouble or Little China?
540 pounds of heavyweight action at Planet Hollywood; Fields, Grant seek redemption in Vegas; Casamayor returns in co-main

Story & photos by Chris Cozzone

“Tye Fields is going to be the next heavyweight champion of the world.”

That was Bob Arum three years ago. Yesterday, we heard it again, only this time it was from Sterling McPherson and Ron Johnson, promoters of Friday night’s card at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

Since Monte Barrett oh-so-cruelly, oh-so-easily chopped down Fields at the Mandalay Bay (I can still hear crowd’s “Tiiiimmmmbbbeeerrrrrr!”), the giant has regrouped in Canada. Fed on overmatched ham-and-eggers, Fields is ready for his Vegas return.

Ditto Michael Grant.

Grant might not have had Arum touting his champeen-potential in the last decade, but, once upon a time, his image was splashed across a Times Square billboard as a hyped-up threat to then-champ Lennox Lewis. In between journeyman, Grant has failed to make the grade of Class A contention, losing a decision to Tomasz Adamek in his last attempt.

On Saturday, Grant, 46-4, 34 KOs, will put his 6’7”, 260-pound frame against the 6’8”, 280-pound Fields in a ten-rounder. The outcome might not determine a top contender, let alone a potential champ, but the fight itself might be worth the price of admission.

“Tye and Michael Grant are both in the same spot,” Fields’ manager, Billy Baxter, said at yesterday’s presser, held at the PBR Rock Bar & Grill at Planet Hollywood. “They have the same issues.”

If “issues” means rising from their respective farm league fights for another attempt at contention legitimacy, Baxter is right on target.

“I’ve learned from adversity,” said Grant. “It’s made me stronger.”

Grant’s first two attempts at the big picture resulted in early round knockout losses. Against Adamek, albeit a decade later, he was able to go the distance.

“I’m here to redeem myself,” said Fields. “I’m still chasing the dream.”

Fields said he was in the best shape of his life and that he’d “left everything up in Canada.”

Hopefully, against Grant, “everything” doesn’t mean chin.

Casamayor returns

In the co-main event, former champ Joel Casamayor (37-5-1,22 KOs), coming off a decision loss to Robert Guerrero, takes on Manuel Leyva (20-1, 12 KOs), of Mexico.

On paper, Leyva looks like the wrong opponent for Casamayor, who is on the verge of retirement. Very few of Leyva’s opponents have winning records, however. In addition, he is taking the fight on short notice, the original opponent being “Mighty” Mike Anchondo.

“We’ll see if he still packs a punch,” Leyva said at the presser. “If so, we are in for a brawl.”

Casamayor told the press to expect a new-and-improved version Friday night.

Undercard

In a ten-round feature cruiserweight bout, for one of the WBC’s many, many, exceedingly worthless trinkets, Las Vegas’ Aaron Williams (20-3-1, 13 KOs) will take on Shane Steele (7-3, 5 KOs) of Louisville, Kentucky. Steele has been TKO’d in two of his last three bouts – which, of course, makes him the perfect candidate to fight for a green belt, as reasoned by the WBC. Williams, too, has lost two of his last three fights – yet another argument to stamp this a championship affair.

In a six-round super middleweight bout, Las Vegas’ Semen Uporov (10-1, 5 KOs) will, most likely, defeat Duane King (2-2,0 KOs), of Reidsville, N.C.

Three more bouts, featuring Dante Moore (6-0-1, 4 KOs), Hiromitsu Muira (5-0, 3 KOs) and Razvan Cojanu (debut) are on the line-up, facing the same opponent – TBA.

Tickets starting at $25 for the card are available at the Planet Hollywood Box Office at 702.785.5555 or at Ticketmaster locations. The weigh-in is scheduled for tomorrow at 2 p.m.