The End of David Izon

By Steve Trellert

09.04 - If I were sent back in time as a soldier to serve in the trenches during the First World War, Heavyweight David Izon would be the kind of individual I would want right by my side. Gritty, tough, and durable, possessing a determination seen in few. You would be hard pressed to find the word 'quit' in his vocabulary, 'No mas? No way!' David Izon is the real life version of the Energizer Bunny, or the countless slasher flick villains spewed forth from Hollywood who seem to come back to life in sequel after sequel. Of course when Slasher #18 gets released around Halloween I tend to cringe, and I am starting to feel the same reaction now when Izon fights.

After admirable success in the Olympics, David Izon embarked on a professional Boxing career that peaked around 1996-1997. Nobody can forget his monstrous twelve round battle against David Tua where the two warriors went toe to toe in a vicious slugfest. David Izon was more than game and only succumbed in the final round to Tua's almost supernatural left hook. The performance during the loss impressed and garnered attention that was exalted further by his relatively quick destruction of fan favorite Lou Savarese. This placed him amongst the next wave of young heavyweights that were supposed to challenge the elite of Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis. How unsuspectingly that wave ebbed for Mr.Izon.

January 1998 saw him fight upcoming HBO darling Michael Grant in what proved to be a pivotal battle. After fighting a strong first round, Grant permanently seized the initiative and dispatched Izon with a barrage of punches he had no answer for. The chin held, but his response did not. Sound familiar? Retrospectively it was the beginning of the end. The next major fight saw David fight Derrick Jefferson who 'was movin on up' after defeating the mercurial Mo Harris. In the record books the fight resulted in a victory but the reality to those who witnessed it was that Izon took a terrible beating. It reminded me of seeing George Foreman in his prime working out on a punching bag, leaving a huge indentation on either side where his punches landed. The bag held but was in terrible condition, it had become warped. How Izon remained on his feet in the Jefferson fight is beyond me. It was domination pure and simple and the only reason victory arrived was the fact that Jefferson simply ran out of bullets and exhausted himself. The referee seemed on the verge of calling the fight numerous times and really should have if health was a serious consideration.

David's most recent fight against Fres Oquendo basically confirmed everything in evidence against Jefferson. That Izon was completely shot. The HBO announcers stated it loud and clear but that was being superfluous, as any fool could determine there was nothing left. Of course he retained his resolve and iron chin and probably could have withstood Oquendo's punishment until the distance, but is that really a good enough reason to keep a boxing career, never mind a fight, afloat in the hope that the opponent will eventually run out of gas? Not if one cares for the human being as well as the boxer.

This weekend David Izon is back in action against the hard hitting and potent 'Goofi' Whitaker on Showtime. I can hear the probable rational in the Izon camp for taking this fight: 'Well David, that 14 month layoff you took before the Oquendo fight made you rusty, it will be better this time.' I pray this is not the case. Anyone who has watched David's bravery in the ring, and class outside, has respect for this guy and I hope his entourage has it as well. I know the bottom line is that the fighter must decide when to hang em up but those around him cannot shirk the responsibility they have beyond their pocketbook. Milking a few extra dollars out of a fighter at the high risk of permanent damage to his health is both reprehensible and unconscionable. Should a boxer's trainer, promoter, manager etc resign their position of employment in protest against a fighter who insists upon continuing a career that is in essence an act of futility? Should Sanctioning bodies, Broadcast Networks and State Athletic Commissions feel any responsibility regarding these issues? Should intervention or regulation of any sort take place? Difficult questions with elusive answers that nonetheless beg boxing introspection by all in the industry.

David Izon's performance has been egregious for years and worsening as time progresses. On Saturday night, David Izon's position will be equivalent to that earlier soldier becoming a prisoner of war (for his sport). His movement towards and into the ring a metaphor for a prisoner walking to that single wooden post before a firing squad. This time though it is not only the executed that will be wearing the blindfold but the audience as well.