Former professional boxer Evander Holyfield is an American. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was the undisputed heavyweight and cruiserweight champion. During the three-belt period, he is the only boxer to win the undisputed title in two weight classes.
About Evander Holyfield | Family and Education
Evander Holyfield was born in the United States on October 19, 1962, in Atmore, Alabama. He came from a huge family and was the youngest child.
Evander was one of eight brothers, and his father was not the same as the rest of his family. Evander’s mother, Annie Laura Holyfield, gave birth to him.
Annie raised the children with their granny. His mother, a pious woman, educated him and his siblings to set objectives and live a disciplined life.
Evander Holyfield’s family relocated from Alabama to an Atlanta housing project area when he was four years old. At the time, Atlanta was known for having a high crime rate.
He also began boxing at a young age and won a boxing medal. He graduated from Fulton High School in 1980 after completing his education.
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Evander competed in the Junior Olympics when he was only 13 years old. He also won the Southeastern regional tournament.
He also took home the award for Best Boxer. Not to mention that at the age of 15, Holyfield had already proven his worth by winning 160 of 174 matches, including 76 knockouts.
During this time, he also competed in the 1983 Pan American Games, winning a silver medal and the National Golden Gloves.
Evander also took home a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Professional Life and Career
Heavyweight (light)
Evander Holyfield made his professional debut in the light heavyweight division against Lionel Byarm in November 1984. Evander not only took part in the game, but he also won his first bout.
Similarly, Evander Holyfield, meanwhile, went on to win a few more fights in the Light Heavyweight class before deciding to switch to cruiserweight the next year.
Cruiserweight
In July 1985, Evander Holyfield made his cruiserweight debut, taking on Tyrone Booze. Evander was declared the winner in round 8 by the unanimous judgment of the judges.
He also won two more fights before defeating Anthony Davis in his final fight of the year.
After defeating Muhammad Qawi in a difficult match in 1986, Holyfield was crowned WBA Cruiserweight Champion, the greatest of the 1980s in the cruiserweight division.
In a rematch in 1987, he defeated Qawi by KO in the fourth round. Following that, Holyfield went on to defend his belt against Henry Tillman.
Henry defeated Mike Tyson, the world heavyweight champion, twice as an amateur. After defeating Tillman in Round 7, Holyfield defended his championship.
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Furthermore, he retained his championship by KO in round 11 against ex-world champion Ossie Ocasio.
Moreover, Holyfield also to prominence after defeating Carlos De León, the Lineal and WBC Champion, in 1988.
Furthermore, He expressed his ambition to ascend to the heavyweight category by challenging Mike Tyson for the World Heavyweight Championship after the fight.
Heavyweight
Holyfield fought James Tillis, who was known for his rapid fighting style and flash punches, in his heavyweight debut.
Also, Evander Holyfield’s first fight against Michael Dokes, an ex-heavyweight champion, in 1989 is remembered as one of the best heavyweight fights of the 1980s. Holyfield won the fight via KO in the tenth round.
In addition, Evander Holyfield’s incredible achievements earned him the #1 spot in Ring Magazine for two years in a row by 1990.
In 1990, Buster Douglas ripped Tyson’s belts off. For Douglas’ prime title defense, Holyfield was paired with Douglas in place of Mike Tyson.
In addition, Evander was crowned the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion by a unanimous verdict. In addition, he won his first title defense against George Foreman by unanimous decision.
Matches (1992-1995)
After that, Holyfield continued to defend his belts against Bert Cooper and Francesco Damiani. In 1992, Holyfield received his first scar in a fight against Larry Holmes, then 42 years old.
Evander Holyfield was adamant about facing Riddick Bowe, who had been one of his greatest enemies throughout his career. As a result, the match’s tenth round was named the best of the year.
Evander, on the other hand, lost a unanimous decision to Riddick in the twelfth round, and Riddick took the belt.
Furthermore, A rematch was scheduled for November of 1993. Someone flew in a parachute near to the ring and became caught in the lights, making the match unforgettable.
The man known as ‘The fan man’ appeared shortly after, and the confrontation was dubbed ‘The fan fight.’
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Moreover, Evander Holyfield won the fight and recovered his championship crown. He was also named Athlete of the Year on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.
Evander was defeated by Michael Moorer of the light heavyweight division in 1994. The loss came after a majority decision in round 12.
Then, He was compelled to put up his gloves after being diagnosed with a heart problem. In 1998, a rematch was scheduled, and Holyfield won the IBF title.
Finally, after defeating Ray Mercer in 1995, Evander returned to the octagon.
Matches (1995-2000)
After that, Holyfield decided to take on Riddick Bowe in another fight. In the eighth round, Riddick KO’d his opponent.
In 1996, the long-awaited fight between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson took place. Against all odds, Evander Holyfield won the fight.
He won the WBA Heavyweight Championship after a technical knockout victory over Tyson in round 11. A rematch between Tyson and Holyfield was announced for June 1997.
Tyson bit Evander in the ears twice during the match, earning him a point deduction and disqualification.
Evander Holyfield eventually won the match and retained his belt. In 1998, Evander Holyfield successfully defended his title against VaughnBea.
In addition, WBC World Champion Lennox Lewis fought Holyfield in a unification battle in 1999. The game ended in a tie, but Holyfield was defeated in the next match.
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Matches (2000-2009)
Following Lewis’ belt removal, Holyfield and John Ruiz were scheduled to fight for the world title belt in 2000. Evander Holyfield, on the other hand, won the opening round by unanimous decision.
Following that, in 2001, Ruiz won a rematch by unanimous decision in the same twelfth round. The next fight took place in December 2001, and it ended in a draw, allowing Ruiz to keep his belts.
In a pivotal bout, Evander Holyfield faced Hasim Rahman to determine who would face Lennox Lewis for the IBF title. Lewis eventually lost his belt, and Holyfield was declared the winner by technical decision.
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Holyfield’s consistency began to deteriorate with time, and he suffered a string of defeats. In 2006, he did defeat Jeremy Bates by technical knockout.
After that, Holyfield won numerous fights before facing Sultan Ibragimov for the WBO Heavyweight title.
Also, Ibragimov won the WBO Heavyweight title by unanimous decision over Holyfield in a highly combative and thrilling fight.
Matches (2009-2014)
In 2009, Evander Holyfield was defeated by Nikolai Valuev by a majority decision in a very contentious bout that the WBA later investigated.
Evander defeated Francois Both to win the WBF heavyweight championship in 2010.
Moreover, He also listed his sole no-contest fight, which he lost to Wladimir Klitschko in round 2 due to an eye injury.
Here, Evander declared his retirement shortly after losing to Brian Nielsen of Denmark and getting a title fight with the Klitschko brothers.
Holyfield retired from boxing in 2014, having won 44 of his 57 fights.
Relationship Status
Evander Holyfield is currently known to be single. He has been married to three separate women, all of whom he has divorced.
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Caldi Cavana Smith was Holyfield’s most recent ex-wife. He spent the most time with Caldi out of all his wives, 11 years.
Furthermore, Evander Holyfield is the father of 11 children by six different women. Elijah Esaias, one of his kids, plays collegiate football for the University of Georgia.
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Body Measurement | Hair, Height, Nationality, Ear
Evander is currently 59 years old, having been born on October 19, 1962. Similarly, Holyfield was born under the zodiac sign of Libra.
Thus, Evander is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 102 kilograms. At the age of 18, he was just 5 feet 8 inches tall. In his early twenties, he added about 3 inches to attain adult height.
Because of his years of training, Holyfield possesses an athletic physique and a well-trained body.
Moreover, Evander has been a fighter for a decade and is still muscular and in excellent shape.
To keep his body in shape, Holyfield follows a strict diet and training routine. He keeps himself fit and active by doing various workouts and activities.
His Ear was bitten off during the fight with Mike Tyson, where he bit 1cm of his ear. Later, Tyson apologized publically for his action.
Music, television shows, and films
Evander Holyfield founded Real Deal Records in 1999, which is best known for Exhale, a popular music group.
The Real Deal is also known for NiWine’s signature, a well-known Filipino musician. Holyfield is passionate about music. So he developed the record company.
He has also appeared in several films and television shows. In 1990, one of them was The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Furthermore, Evander also starred in a Nickelodeon animated series called GUTS, in which his character sported his signature bitten ear.
In 2014, he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother (UK) and was the first person evicted from the program. In 2016, he made an appearance on an Argentine dancing reality show.
Social Media
Evander Holyfield is a frequent social media user. He communicates with his followers on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
He has a total of 503k Instagram followers, 301.7k Twitter followers, and 982k Facebook fans.
Frequently Asked Question:
What is the estimated net worth of Evander Holyfield?
According to online sources, Holyfield’s estimated net worth in 2022 will exceed $1 million.
Evander Holyfield bench pressed how much?
Evander Holyfield, according to reports, can bench press more than 100 kilograms.
What is Evander Holyfield’s track record in the ring?
Evander Holyfield has 44 victories, 10 defeats, and two draws in his professional career.
What did Evander Holyfield get for his home?
Evander Holyfield got $7.5 million for his 45,000-square-foot home.
When was Evander Holyfield’s most recent game?
On May 7, 2011, Evander Holyfield fought Brian Nielsen for the last time. That match was won by Holyfield via technical knockout (TKO).
Quick Facts | Evander Holyfield
Full Name | Evader Holyfield |
Birth Date | October 19, 1962 |
Birth Place | Atmore, Alabama, U.S |
Nick Name | The Real Deal |
Religion | Christianity |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Not available |
Education | Fulton High School |
Horoscope | Libra |
Father’s Name | Not available |
Mother’s Name | Annie Laura Holyfield |
Siblings | Yes(8) |
Age | 59 Years Old |
Height | 6ft 21/2inches (189cm approx) |
Weight | 102 kg |
Shoe Size | Not Available |
Hair Color | Blad |
Eye Color | Black |
Body Measurement | Not available |
Build | Athletic |
Marital Status | Divorced |
Girlfriends | No |
Spouse | Paulette (m. 1985; div. 1991),Janice Itson (m. 1996; div. 2000),
Candi Calvana Smith(m. 2003; div. 2012) |
Profession | Former professional boxer |
Boxing record | 44-10-2 |
Position | Not Available |
Net Worth | 1 Million USD |
Social Media | Twitter, Facebook, Instagram |
Children | Yes (11) |
Merch | Posters, Hoodie, Boxing Cards |
Last Update | May 2022 |