NEW YORK -- Evander Holyfield, keeping his pledge to fight top heavyweights while waiting for a shot at champion Mike Tyson, will test Brazil's Adilson Rodrigues July 15 at Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nev.
Holyfield, the former unbeaten cruiserweight champion who is 3-0 as a heavyweight, is ranked No. 1 by the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association. Because Tyson has announced his 1989 plans do not include Holyfield, the leading challenger is looking to stay busy in hopes of landing a shot at the title in 1990.
'I'm focused on Rodrigues right now, not Tyson,' said Holyfield, who is 21-0 with 17 knockouts after a 10th-round knockout of Michael Dokes March 11. 'I don't look at any fight as a tuneup. It's one step toward Tyson.'
Holyfield's payday of $1.2 million for the 12-round bout, which will be televised by Showtime from Caesars Tahoe, suggests it is more than a tuneup. Not since the second Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali bout in 1974 have heavyweights made more money for a non-title bout.
Rodrigues, 35-2 with 26 knockouts, will earn $300,000 plus the chance to prove he deserves a shot at Tyson. Rodrigues is the WBC's No. 2 ranked contender but is lightly regarded because he is slow and has beaten no leading challengers.
He will also be 31 years old by time he fights Holyfield. But he is big, 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, and has captured the imagination of Brazilian fans.
'Maguilla (Rodrigues' nickname) is the greatest idol in Brazil,' said Julio Mazzei.
Mazzei, the former adviser to soccer great Pele, and trainer Angelo Dundee attended Thursday's news conference.
Dundee, who trained Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard from their pro debuts to world championships, became Rodrigues' trainer 18 months ago. He has been to Brazil five times to work with Rodrigues.
'When I got down there I feel like when I was with Muhammad,' Dundee said. 'All the people follow him around. They love him down there.'
Soccer, basketball and volleyball are the big sports in Brazil, but that hasn't stopped Rodrigues from becoming a celebrity.
'I like to dance but not to play soccer,' he said. 'It feels good being among well-known personalities in Brazil, now I would love to be in the same position in the United States.'
Rodrigues earned the nicknamed Maguilla, which means 'little monkey,' while working on a construction crew. He said his co-workers thought he resembled an ape while carrying pails of wet cement.
'His real name is Jose Adilson Rodrigues dos Santos,' Dundee said. 'When they wanted cement they called him Maguila because by time they said Jose Adilson Rodrigeus dos Santos, the cement would dry.'
Rodrigues plans to leapfrog over Holyfield to the top of the list of Tyson challengers.
'Holyfield is a great boxer but I think I'm stronger,' he said. 'If I hit him first, I can get him in trouble.'
Holyfield's handlers are negotiating for a fall bout with George Foreman. Orlin Norris, Tim Witherspoon and Alex Stewart have been mentioned as future opponents but Holfyield would rather meet Tyson next.
'I've worked hard to get in this position,' he said. 'My time will come.'
Holyfield stands 6-2 and said he will weigh between 208 and 212 pounds for the bout.
