Evander Holyfield (b.1962) is an American boxer and a four-time world heavyweight champion. The only professional fighter to win the heavyweight championship four separate times (1990–92, 1993–94, 1996–99, and 2000–01,) he surpassed the record of Muhammad Ali, who won it three times.
Born in Atmore, Alabama, Holyfield represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the light heavyweight division. He turned professional at the age of 21, moving up to cruiserweight in 1985 and winning his first world championship the following year. His three fights against Riddick Bowe are considered the most aggressive in modern heavyweight boxing.
After winning three heavyweights titles, Holyfield declared his retirement at the end of 1996 over his heart condition. He still beat Mike Tyson that year to regain the heavyweight title. He defended his title against Tyson in 1997 when Tyson was disqualified for biting off a piece of Holyfield’s ear. Holyfield eventually lost a unification bout to Lennox Lewis in 1999, but in 2000 beat John Ruiz to become the first man to win the world heavyweight championship four times.
Holyfield’s biography is Becoming Holyfield: A Fighter’s Journey (2008; with Lee Gruenfeld.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Evander Holyfield
It is not the size of a man but the size of his heart that matters.
—Evander Holyfield
Topics: Heart
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