Evander Holyfield is a former American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2011. He is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, having won multiple world titles in different weight divisions and defeating some of the most legendary boxers in history.
Holyfield was born on October 19, 1962, in Atmore, Alabama, but grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He started boxing at the age of 7 and had a successful amateur career, winning a bronze medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
In his professional career, Holyfield fought in four different weight classes, including cruiserweight, heavyweight, light heavyweight, and cruiserweight. He won his first world title in 1986 when he defeated Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBA cruiserweight title.
Holyfield then moved up to the heavyweight division, where he had some of his most famous fights, including his two victories over Mike Tyson, one of which was infamous for Tyson biting Holyfield’s ear during the fight. Holyfield also defeated boxing legends such as George Foreman, Riddick Bowe, and Lennox Lewis.
Over the course of his career, Holyfield won a total of 44 fights, with 29 of those wins coming by knockout. He also had 10 losses and two draws. He retired from professional boxing in 2011 at the age of 48.
Outside of the ring, Holyfield has been involved in various charitable and humanitarian causes, including founding the Holyfield Foundation to provide education, housing, and medical care for underprivileged children. He has also appeared in various movies and TV shows and has been involved in promoting the sport of boxing.
Throughout his career, Holyfield was known for his toughness, endurance, and ability to come back from adversity. He was also known for his strong Christian faith, which he often spoke about in interviews and public appearances.
Here are 10 famous quotes by Evander Holyfield:
“Boxing is the ultimate challenge. There’s nothing that can compare to testing yourself the way you do every time you step in the ring.”
“It’s not the size of a man but the size of his heart that matters.”
“The only way to stop me is to kill me. And even then, you’d better be prepared to have trouble stopping me.”
“I never lost a fight because I wasn’t in shape or because I wasn’t prepared. I lost because I made a mistake, and my opponent was able to take advantage of it.”
“It’s hard to stay humble when you’re as great as I am.”
“You don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.”
“I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don’t do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results.”
“I have never been in a fight that I didn’t think I could win.”
“The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.”
“You cannot be a winner without gratitude.”