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Evander Holyfield vs. Lou Savarese, El Paso, Texas, June 30, 2007, photograph by John Kloepper –

Top 10 Awesome Facts about Boxing Legend Evander Holyfield

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield is a retired professional boxer. He was born on October 19, 1962, in Atmore, Alabama. His intelligent and effective fighting style had a significant role in his success. As a result, he has 44 victories from 57 fights, including 29 knockout victories and just 10 losses.

Holyfield, the youngest of nine children, was much younger than his siblings and was born to a different father. Holyfield’s family then relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he grew up in the decrepit Bowen Homes Housing Projects. Here are the top 10 awesome facts about the boxing legend.

1. He began boxing at age seven

When Holyfield was four years old, his family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he joined the Boys & Girls Club and met Carter Morgan, who introduced him to the sport of boxing. He began boxing when he was seven years old and won the Boys Club boxing tournament.

He started boxing at an early age in the streets and his talent helped him to sustain a long boxing career. Evander Holyfield began boxing when he was seven years old. He used to fight on the streets.

In the early days of his boxing career, a young man named Cecil Brown defeated Evander Holyfield twice, discouraging him enough to retire. However, he summoned the bravery to face him a third time and eventually prevailed. 

Read about reasons for joining a boxing gym before it’s too late.

2. Holyfield became the Southeastern Regional Champion at the age of 15

Evander Holyfield photo by cliff1066 –

Holyfield joined the Boys & Girls Club when he was eight years old. Carter Morgan introduced him to the sport of professional boxing. He quickly won the boys club boxing tournament. By the age of 13, he was qualified to compete in the first Junior Olympics. He won the Southeastern Regional Championship and the Best Boxer title at the age of 15.

3. Holyfield started professionally as a light heavyweight

On November 15, 1984, Holyfield made his professional debut as a light heavyweight with a televised six-round victory over Lionel Byarm at Madison Square Garden. On January 20, 1985, he defeated Eric Winbush in a six-round decision in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

He beat out Fred Brown in the first round in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 13, and Mark Rivera in two rounds in Corpus Christi, Texas, on April 20.

4. Evander Holyfield won the National Golden Gloves tournament in 1984

Golden gloves photo by Mariodpl –

The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States, where they are awarded a belt and a ring. And the title of nations champion is awarded. Evander Holyfield won the National Golden Gloves tournament in 1984 in the light heavyweight division while representing Knoxville.

He represented the United States in the light heavyweight division of boxing in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles California. He was a bronze medalist in his category.

5. He’s the only boxer to win the undisputed championship in two weight classes

Evander Holyfield vs. Lou Savarese, El Paso, Texas, June 30, 2007, photograph by John Kloepper –

He was the undisputed champion at cruiserweight in the late 1980s and heavyweight in the early 1990s, and he is the only boxer in history to have won the undisputed title in both weight divisions during the three-belt period. A weight class is a weight range for boxers in boxing.

A weight class’s lower limit is equivalent to the upper weight limit of the class below it. In professional boxing, the top class has no upper limit and is referred to as heavyweight or super heavyweight.

6. Holyfield is the only four-time world heavyweight champion

Holyfield is the only heavyweight champion to win the title four times. He held the titles for the WBA, WBC, and IBF simultaneously from 1990 to 1992, the WBA and IBF titles once more from 1993 to 1994, the WBA title for a third time from 1996 to 1999, the IBF title for a third time from 1997 to 1999, and the WBA title for a fourth time from 2000 to 2001.

He won the 2000 match against John Ruiz to become the only boxer to ever win the World Heavyweight Championship four times. Ruiz triumphed in the rematch by unanimous decision in the same twelfth round the following year, in 2001.

Another match was scheduled for December 2001, but it was called a tie, allowing Ruiz to keep the titles. Holyfield squared up against Hasim Rahman in a decisive contest to determine who would challenge Lennox Lewis for the IBF championship. Lewis was eventually stripped of his title, and Holyfield defeated Rahman on a technical decision.

Check out intriguing facts about the current heavyweight champion.

7. Holyfield defeated Mike Tyson by TKO

Mike Tyson at the Heavyweight Exhibit at Boxing Hall of Fame, Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada photo by Steve Lott –

In 1996, Holyfield defeated former world champion, Bobby Czyz, by knockout in six rounds. He later met Mike Tyson.

Tyson had reclaimed the WBC and WBA Heavyweight Championships and, after being stripped of the WBC championship for failing to face Lennox Lewis, defended the WBA belt against Holyfield on November 9, the same year.

Tyson was strongly favoured to win, but Holyfield created history by defeating Tyson in the 11th round via TKO. Holyfield won the WBA Heavyweight title for the third time. Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear during their rematch, making it one of the most contentious bouts in boxing history. Mike Tyson was disqualified as a result of his actions, and Evander Holyfield was declared the winner.

Here are facts about Holyfield and Tyson’s rivalry.

8. He carried the Olympic Torch during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta

When the Olympic torch was on its way to his hometown of Atlanta for that year’s Olympics in 1996, Holyfield was granted the opportunity to carry it. The 1996 Summer Olympics was an international multi-sport event held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, from July 19 to August 4, 1996.

9. He founded Real Deal Records

He established Real Deal Records, which he used to sign the band Exhale, which saw brief success. Boxer Evander Holyfield and business partner Rochester Johnson Jr. established Real Deal Records, LLC on February 11, 1999.

Cuttboy G Dinero, a rapper and producer, rapper 2Meka Diaz, Shalom, an R&B group, Saison, a well-known Filipino singer, NuWine, a rapper from Houston, Exhale, a group of distinctive R&B singers, and gospel singer Lexi are some of the musicians signed to Real Deal Records. Holyfield emphasized the wide range of musical styles produced by his label.

10. He was nicknamed “The Real Deal”

Evander Holyfield, Hollywood photo by Toglenn –

Boxers have always had nicknames, sometimes selected by themselves, sometimes bestowed upon them by the public or some third party. The purpose of a nickname has been to either highlight the boxer’s intimidation factor or to aid in the marketing of the fighter through the “catchiness” of the term.

But no nickname has ever been more fitting than Evander Holyfield’s “The Real Deal.” By any standard, Holyfield is a legend in the history of the squared circle. He, like almost all previous champions, has both haters and fans.