HOLYFIELD, EVANDER-JAMES-TILLIS ON SITE POSTER (1988)

On July 16, 1988 at Caesars Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada future world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, fighting as a cruiserweight, took on veteran James "Quick" Tillis in the main event. Holyfield stopped Tillis in the 5th round. Holyfield said before the fight that he would not return to the cruiserweight division, even if he lost to Tillis, but he did not notify the three major sanctioning bodies that he was relinquishing his cruiserweight titles until after he defeated Pinklon Thomas in December 1988. Tillis entered with a record of 3-3-1 in his previous seven bouts, with each loss coming by knockout. At the end of the second round, the fighters continued to exchange punches after the bell and had to be forcibly separated by the referee. During the exchange, which took place along the ropes near Holyfield's corner, Holyfield's trainer, Lou Duva, stepped up on the ring apron and grabbed Tillis' arms from behind and held him back against the ropes. This incited Tillis's trainer, Beau Williford, who ran across the ring and got into a brief shoving match with Duva. As the two trainers were being separated, Holyfield and Tillis embraced in the center of the ring. Showtime analyst Ferdie Pacheco said, "There is no room in boxing for that kind of nonsense! That's hooliganism at any level. That should not be allowed. . . . When tempers flare like that, experienced hands like Lou Duva and Williford should know better than to try and go at each other. That's sometimes called maturity." At the time of the stoppage, two judges had Holyfield ahead 50-45 and the other judge had Holyfield in front 49-46. This was Holyfield's seventh consecutive knockout win. He would go on to extend the streak to thirteen. Holyfield called his victory over Tillis "the biggest step in my career." Offered here is a scarce, original, on site poster for this event.
This is an original, heavy paper, on site poster. Bold color and print. Bold, clear image. No center crease. Tack holes in corners. Tiny crease in lower right corner. Minor edge wear. Clean front and back. 20" x 38."