NEW YORK -- Evander Holyfield and Pinklon Thomas, who will fight each other Oct. 14 in hopes of eventually challenging Mike Tyson, Thursday said they felt for the troubled heavyweight champion.
Holyfield, who is undisputed cruiserweight champion, will fight as a heavyweight for the second time, against former World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Thomas. The winner is expected to meet former World Boxing Association champion Michael Dokes in March, with the victor of that bout most likely getting a shot at Tyson.
Tyson's career, however, is temporarily on hold because of physical and emotional troubles. Tyson was discharged from the hospital Wendesday, after suffering head and chest injuries in a Sunday car accident. The injuries pushed back his Oct. 22 bout against Frank Bruno, and a report that he attempted suicide raises questions about when he will be ready to resume fighting.
'I hope he pulls through this,' said Holyfield, who was friends with Tyson when they were amatuers. 'Not because I can make a lot of money fighting him, but because I want him to get better as a person.
'I always thought he was a strong person. But at that age (Tyson is 22), it's difficult dealing with that pressure. He needs someone he can trust.'
Thomas was knocked out in five rounds by Tyson in a May 30, 1987 title fight. He has not fought since.
'This is an opportunity to get to Mike Tyson if he doesn't self-destruct,' Thomas said. 'I know what it is to be champion, to go through the ups and downs. I kind of feel for him. I think he's been strong to sustain how long he has.
'I hope he pulls through. I hope his mental and physical capacity comes back together so he can thrive again.'
Holfyield, 19-0 with 15 knockouts, is widely regarded as the fighter who will give Tyson his next strong challenge in the ring. His first heavyweight bout was a fifth-round knockout of James Tillis July 16. Holyfield says he will be ready for a championship shot if he defeats Thomas and Dokes. He denied Tyson's troubles will change his timetable.
'My goal is to be the heavyweight champion, not to fight Mike Tyson,' Holyfield said. 'Just because Tyson has some troubles in his life, it won't throw my plans off at all.'
Thomas, 30, is 29-2-1 with 24 knockouts. He won the WBC title from Tim Witherspoon Aug. 31, 1984, but lost it on his second defense to Trevor Berbick March 22, 1986.
'I liked it at the top,' Thomas said. 'I haven't been too far from the top, I just haven't been active.'
Thomas said a shoulder injury suffered before the Tyson fight caused him to lay off three months. He was due to fight in January but had an ear infection. He then pulled out of an April fight against Buster Douglas because George Foreman agreed to fight Thomas in June, but that bout fell through.
The 10-round bout at Caesars Atlantic City will be televised by Showtime. Dokes will meet Rocky Sekorski on the undercard.
