Evander Holyfield
Posted: 29 Dec 2006, 05:44
This man is clearly one of the greatest fighters of all time, though he is never quite given his due. No matter what he seems to do Holyfield is bombarded with negativity and doubt, and other things, sometimes personal, over shadow his accomplishments inside the ring.
Robbed of an Olympic Gold Medal, Holyfield raged war against the professional ranks unifying the Cruiserweight titles with wins over Dwight Qawi, Henry Tillman, Ricky Parkey, Carlos DeLeon, and Ossie Ocasio. He is generally considered the ‘greatest’ Cruiserweight champion of all time.
Holyfield then abandoned the Cruiserweight division for the more lucrative Heavyweight division. Experts at the time were doubting that Holyfield would have any real success at Heavyweight because of the jump up in weight. But with six consecutive wins at the new weight class, all by knockout, he earned a title shot at Buster Douglas, the man who beat the ‘unbeatable’ Mike Tyson in Tokyo.
Holyfield defeated a visibly over weight and under trained Douglas by way of kayo in three rounds. Immediately boxing fans and experts were saying that Holyfield just beat a fighter who was nothing to begin with, that Douglas was only in it for the money etc. Again he wasn’t given his dues.
His first title defense was to be against the ageless wonder George Foreman and instantly people were down Holyfield’s throat. He was definitely in a ‘double edged sword’ situation, if he beat Foreman he just beat an old man, if he lost he was truly a bum because an old man beat him. Holyfield withstood Foreman’s punches and won the decision. Ironically it was Foreman who got all the praise for his great showing against Holyfield, rather than the other way around.
Holyfield’s next defense wasn’t much better as #1 contender Tony Tucker failed to show and a substitute in second tier contender Bert Cooper was now the challenger. What was worse is that Holyfield was rocked by Cooper during the fight. Holyfield went for the jugular soon after that and knocked Cooper out in the 7th.
Then came Larry Holmes. Again another situation where it was ‘you win you beat an old man, you lose you’re the bum of the decade’. Of course Holyfield pulled off the victory via 12 round unaminous decision.
Then came the biggest blow to his career. And he found it in Olympic Silver medalist Riddick Bowe who was undefeated as a professional. Holyfield would lose to Bowe in one of the greatest fights, which would spawn off one of the greatest rivalries in history.
Holyfield went through Alex Stewart via decision in his next bout, immediately getting a rematch with Bowe. The fight its self was controversial due to the appearance of ‘Fan Man’, but in the end it was Holyfield’s hand that was raised in victory, becoming a two time Heavyweight champion.
It wouldn’t last for long though as Holyfield lost a decision to Michael Moorer. Holyfield was again called a failure and many were already telling him to hang up the gloves, that his career was over. Holyfield continued to press on, beating Ray Mercer by decision and had another set back in his final fight with Bowe, losing by kayo for the first time in his career.
Despite the experts and the critics, Holyfield shrugged off the loss and continued on, winning over Bobby Czyz and then getting a shot at Mike Tyson, who had regained the WBA title after 3yrs in prison. Betters said that Holyfield had no chance in hell, and the bets were almost close to the figures of Tyson-Douglas.
Holyfield won believers and adulation and respect for the first time in his career, as he weathered the storm and knocked Tyson out in the 11th round. Fans clamoured for a rematch, but the incident that followed over shadowed not just the two fighters, but the rivalry and the title its self. The ‘Bite Fight’ was what it came to be known as.
Holyfield won respect and sympathy against his advisary and would get more when he avenged his loss to Michael Moorer by kayo in the 8th winning the IBF title in the process. Now as the WBA/IBF title holder, he was considered the man among the elite with no doubts or questions.
With a successful defense over Vaughn Bean, the greatness he achieved would come to a hault as he hit a 6’5” 245 pound wall in Lennox Lewis. The fight was declared a draw, but everyone knew Lewis was robbed. Holyfield was now shrouded in shame once again. The rematch proved to be more accurate as Lewis won unaminously.
Holyfield was lost in pugilistic limbo. What followed next was a downhill spiral as he had three terrible fights with John Ruiz, winning the WBA title only to lose it. He ‘won’ a technical decision over Hasim Rahman which was over shadowed by the ghastly and horrific hemmatoma that was on Rahman’s head, which was caused by a headbutt.
Holyfield then fought Chris Byrd for the vacant IBF title and lost by wide margins. He was 40 years old then and the losses were about to pile up even more. He then lost to James Toney, then Cruiserweight champion, by kayo for the second time in his career.
The boxing magazines were filled with write ups and articles that Holyfield should retire before he turned into another boxing tragedy or was killed. Holyfield stated that he would not retire until he regained the title one more time, making him a 5x Heavyweight championship.
His next fight would put him into a near 2 year exile, as he lost by 10 point margins to Cincinnati based Heavyweight Larry Donald. It was said that if Holyfield would win he would get a shot against then reigning WBO champion Lamon Brewster. After the loss his boxing license was taken away.
In 2006 he was given back his license after passing all neurological tests. He came back with a kayo win over journeyman Jeremy Bates and looked more sharper and in better shape than he had been in years. Holyfield said that his training was more focused on quality sparring rather than quantity, because at his age he could not spar as often as he would be if he was younger.
But still he was considered a side show. Then when we heard he was going to fight Fres Oquendo we all laughed and said, yet again, that he had no chance. Oquendo was the Latino Heavyweight champion of the world and twice challenged for portions of the Heavyweight title (WBA and IBF).
Unbelievably Holyfield not only won the decision over Oquendo at age 44, he managed to drop Oquendo twice during the 12 round fight. Holyfield had nothing much to say except that he had to get back into training and get ready for his next fight.
At this rate Holyfield just might get his title shot. The question is, will he be doubted once again, or will he have some believers this time?
Holyfield’s greatest assets wasn’t just his punching power, great chin or even his skills as a boxer, but it was his belief in his own self and dedication in the gym. His determination was so great and was so courageous. It can be argued that no other Heavyweight in his era was as conditioned or had to over come such negative feedback.
This man is one of the greatest fighters, let alone champions, of all time. I personally rank him at #11 of the greatest Heavyweight champions of all time.
Robbed of an Olympic Gold Medal, Holyfield raged war against the professional ranks unifying the Cruiserweight titles with wins over Dwight Qawi, Henry Tillman, Ricky Parkey, Carlos DeLeon, and Ossie Ocasio. He is generally considered the ‘greatest’ Cruiserweight champion of all time.
Holyfield then abandoned the Cruiserweight division for the more lucrative Heavyweight division. Experts at the time were doubting that Holyfield would have any real success at Heavyweight because of the jump up in weight. But with six consecutive wins at the new weight class, all by knockout, he earned a title shot at Buster Douglas, the man who beat the ‘unbeatable’ Mike Tyson in Tokyo.
Holyfield defeated a visibly over weight and under trained Douglas by way of kayo in three rounds. Immediately boxing fans and experts were saying that Holyfield just beat a fighter who was nothing to begin with, that Douglas was only in it for the money etc. Again he wasn’t given his dues.
His first title defense was to be against the ageless wonder George Foreman and instantly people were down Holyfield’s throat. He was definitely in a ‘double edged sword’ situation, if he beat Foreman he just beat an old man, if he lost he was truly a bum because an old man beat him. Holyfield withstood Foreman’s punches and won the decision. Ironically it was Foreman who got all the praise for his great showing against Holyfield, rather than the other way around.
Holyfield’s next defense wasn’t much better as #1 contender Tony Tucker failed to show and a substitute in second tier contender Bert Cooper was now the challenger. What was worse is that Holyfield was rocked by Cooper during the fight. Holyfield went for the jugular soon after that and knocked Cooper out in the 7th.
Then came Larry Holmes. Again another situation where it was ‘you win you beat an old man, you lose you’re the bum of the decade’. Of course Holyfield pulled off the victory via 12 round unaminous decision.
Then came the biggest blow to his career. And he found it in Olympic Silver medalist Riddick Bowe who was undefeated as a professional. Holyfield would lose to Bowe in one of the greatest fights, which would spawn off one of the greatest rivalries in history.
Holyfield went through Alex Stewart via decision in his next bout, immediately getting a rematch with Bowe. The fight its self was controversial due to the appearance of ‘Fan Man’, but in the end it was Holyfield’s hand that was raised in victory, becoming a two time Heavyweight champion.
It wouldn’t last for long though as Holyfield lost a decision to Michael Moorer. Holyfield was again called a failure and many were already telling him to hang up the gloves, that his career was over. Holyfield continued to press on, beating Ray Mercer by decision and had another set back in his final fight with Bowe, losing by kayo for the first time in his career.
Despite the experts and the critics, Holyfield shrugged off the loss and continued on, winning over Bobby Czyz and then getting a shot at Mike Tyson, who had regained the WBA title after 3yrs in prison. Betters said that Holyfield had no chance in hell, and the bets were almost close to the figures of Tyson-Douglas.
Holyfield won believers and adulation and respect for the first time in his career, as he weathered the storm and knocked Tyson out in the 11th round. Fans clamoured for a rematch, but the incident that followed over shadowed not just the two fighters, but the rivalry and the title its self. The ‘Bite Fight’ was what it came to be known as.
Holyfield won respect and sympathy against his advisary and would get more when he avenged his loss to Michael Moorer by kayo in the 8th winning the IBF title in the process. Now as the WBA/IBF title holder, he was considered the man among the elite with no doubts or questions.
With a successful defense over Vaughn Bean, the greatness he achieved would come to a hault as he hit a 6’5” 245 pound wall in Lennox Lewis. The fight was declared a draw, but everyone knew Lewis was robbed. Holyfield was now shrouded in shame once again. The rematch proved to be more accurate as Lewis won unaminously.
Holyfield was lost in pugilistic limbo. What followed next was a downhill spiral as he had three terrible fights with John Ruiz, winning the WBA title only to lose it. He ‘won’ a technical decision over Hasim Rahman which was over shadowed by the ghastly and horrific hemmatoma that was on Rahman’s head, which was caused by a headbutt.
Holyfield then fought Chris Byrd for the vacant IBF title and lost by wide margins. He was 40 years old then and the losses were about to pile up even more. He then lost to James Toney, then Cruiserweight champion, by kayo for the second time in his career.
The boxing magazines were filled with write ups and articles that Holyfield should retire before he turned into another boxing tragedy or was killed. Holyfield stated that he would not retire until he regained the title one more time, making him a 5x Heavyweight championship.
His next fight would put him into a near 2 year exile, as he lost by 10 point margins to Cincinnati based Heavyweight Larry Donald. It was said that if Holyfield would win he would get a shot against then reigning WBO champion Lamon Brewster. After the loss his boxing license was taken away.
In 2006 he was given back his license after passing all neurological tests. He came back with a kayo win over journeyman Jeremy Bates and looked more sharper and in better shape than he had been in years. Holyfield said that his training was more focused on quality sparring rather than quantity, because at his age he could not spar as often as he would be if he was younger.
But still he was considered a side show. Then when we heard he was going to fight Fres Oquendo we all laughed and said, yet again, that he had no chance. Oquendo was the Latino Heavyweight champion of the world and twice challenged for portions of the Heavyweight title (WBA and IBF).
Unbelievably Holyfield not only won the decision over Oquendo at age 44, he managed to drop Oquendo twice during the 12 round fight. Holyfield had nothing much to say except that he had to get back into training and get ready for his next fight.
At this rate Holyfield just might get his title shot. The question is, will he be doubted once again, or will he have some believers this time?
Holyfield’s greatest assets wasn’t just his punching power, great chin or even his skills as a boxer, but it was his belief in his own self and dedication in the gym. His determination was so great and was so courageous. It can be argued that no other Heavyweight in his era was as conditioned or had to over come such negative feedback.
This man is one of the greatest fighters, let alone champions, of all time. I personally rank him at #11 of the greatest Heavyweight champions of all time.