Holyfield ailing before fight8217;

ATLANTA, MARCH 17: Evander Holyfield8217;s attorney says the heavyweight boxing champion had a stomach ache before his controversial unification fight with Lennox Lewis. Attorney Jim Thomas said on Tuesday that Holyfield was sweating during a routine stretching session two days before the fight and that the boxer told him his 8220;stomach doesn8217;t feel right8221; and his 8220;legs were sticking8221; in the locker room before Saturday night8217;s bout in Madison Square Garden.

In a 12-round fight many thought Lewis clearly won, the judges called it a draw. Thomas said he asked Holyfield why he didn8217;t say something earlier, and Holyfield responded, 8220;I thought it would be a short fight, so it didn8217;t matter.8221; Holyfield had predicted he would knock out Lewis in the third round. quot;Holyfield had a virus about three weeks before the fight, but said he had recovered. It8217;s possible the virus returned,quot; Thomas said.