Evander Holyfield
Former undisputed heavyweight world champion; fought Vitor Belfort in an exhibition on September 11, 2021.
Evander Holyfield, known as "the Real Deal," is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2011. He is the only boxer in history to become the undisputed champion in two weight classes during the three-belt era, a distinction later matched by Terence Crawford, Naoya Inoue, and Oleksandr Usyk in the four-belt era. Holyfield reigned as the undisputed cruiserweight champion in the late 1980s and as the undisputed heavyweight champion in the early 1990s. He is also the only four-time world heavyweight champion, having held the unified WBA, WBC, and IBF titles from 1990 to 1992, the WBA and IBF titles again from 1993 to 1994, the WBA title a third time from 1996 to 1999, the IBF title a third time from 1997 to 1999, and the WBA title for a fourth time from 2000 to 2001. As an amateur, he won a bronze medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Turning professional at 21, he moved up to cruiserweight in 1985 and won his first world title the following year by defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBA belt. He then unified the division by winning the WBC and IBF titles. Moving to heavyweight in 1988, he defeated Buster Douglas in 1990 to claim the unified heavyweight championship. Holyfield successfully defended his titles against former champions George Foreman and Larry Holmes before suffering his first loss to Riddick Bowe in 1992, a defeat he avenged the following year. After a brief medical retirement in 1994, he returned in 1995. In 1996, he defeated Mike Tyson to reclaim the WBA title, becoming the first boxer since Muhammad Ali to win a world heavyweight title three times. The 1997 rematch ended with Tyson being disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ears. Holyfield later avenged a loss to Michael Moorer and reclaimed the IBF title. In 1999, he fought Lennox Lewis to a controversial split draw, losing the rematch eight months later. He defeated John Ruiz for the vacant WBA title in 2000, becoming the first boxer to win a version of the heavyweight title four times. Holyfield is ranked number 77 on *The Ring*’s list of 100 greatest punchers and was named the 22nd greatest fighter of the past 80 years. BoxingScene ranks him the greatest cruiserweight of all time. He was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
- known_for
- Often described as a four-time world heavyweight champion; undisputed champion in cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions in the three-belt era; won bronze in light heavyweight at the 1984 Olympics
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- The Real Deal / The Warrior
- Weight
- Cruiserweight / Heavyweight
- Height
- 6 ft 2+1/2 in
- Reach
- 77+1/2 in
- Birth Date
- 1962-10-19
- Birth Place
- Atmore, Alabama, U.S.
- Children
- 11, including Elijah and Evan
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Total
- 57
- Wins
- 44
- Ko
- 29
- Losses
- 10
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Evander Holyfield stepped in to face Vitor Belfort on September 11, 2021, after Oscar De La Hoya withdrew due to contracting COVID-19. De La Hoya announced on September 3 that he was fully vaccinated and receiving hospital treatment. Holyfield replaced him, and the event moved from California to Florida. The fight was an exhibition billed as "No Holds Barred" and took place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Miami, Florida. Belfort won by TKO at 1:49 of the first round. The fight generated approximately 150,000 pay-per-view buys. The undercard included an eight-round cruiserweight bout between Anderson Silva and Tito Ortiz, and a heavyweight showdown between David Haye and Joe Fournier.
Reader's Guide
The fight was the third event of Triller Fight Club, a series promoted by the video-sharing app Triller and rapper Snoop Dogg. The PPV was distributed via cable and satellite in the U.S. and Canada, and on the combat sports streaming service Fite TV. The event aired in Brazil on Combate and in Hispanic America on ESPN. An alternate commentary program featured the 45th President of the United States Donald Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr., and UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal. The standard commentary team was initially reported as Jim Lampley and Shawn Porter, but on September 9, Lampley opted out and rapper 50 Cent replaced him.
Did You Know?
- The fight was originally scheduled as Oscar De La Hoya vs. Vitor Belfort, but De La Hoya withdrew after contracting COVID-19.
- Evander Holyfield replaced De La Hoya just eight days before the fight, on September 3, 2021.
- The event moved from California to Florida after Holyfield stepped in.
- An alternate commentary feed featured the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, alongside his son Donald Trump Jr. and UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal.
- The fight sold 150,000 pay-per-view buys.
The Bout and Its Outcome
On September 11, 2021, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Miami, Florida, Evander Holyfield faced Vitor Belfort in an exhibition billed as "No Holds Barred." Belfort won the fight by TKO at 1:49 of the first round. The fight sold 150,000 PPV buys.
A Fight Born of Circumstance
The bout was originally announced on June 17, 2021, as Oscar De La Hoya vs. Vitor Belfort under the Triller Fight Club banner. On July 21, it was announced the match would be an official boxing match sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission. On September 3, De La Hoya announced he would not fight due to contracting COVID-19, stating he was fully vaccinated and receiving hospital treatment. Evander Holyfield stepped in to face Belfort, and the event was moved from California to Florida.
The Triller Machine and Global Distribution
The card was the third event of Triller Fight Club, promoted by the video-sharing app Triller and rapper Snoop Dogg. The PPV was distributed via cable and satellite in the U.S. and Canada, and on the combat sports streaming service Fite TV. The event aired in Brazil on Combate and in Hispanic America on ESPN.
Commentary, Celebrity, and the Spectacle Economy
On September 7, it was announced there would be an alternate commentary program featuring the 45th President of the United States Donald Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr., and UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal. The standard commentary team was reported to be Jim Lampley and Shawn Porter, but on September 9, Lampley opted out and rapper 50 Cent replaced him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Evander Holyfield?
Evander Holyfield (born October 19, 1962) is an American former professional boxer whose career spanned from 1984 to 2011. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest heavyweights of his generation and is universally called "the Real Deal."
How many world heavyweight titles did Evander Holyfield win?
Holyfield is most commonly described as a four-time world heavyweight champion, though the precise tally shifts depending on whether you count unified reigns as one or tally each individual belt separately. The ambiguity has been a running debate among boxing statisticians for decades.
Did Evander Holyfield compete in the Olympics?
Yes. Before turning professional, Holyfield earned a bronze medal in the light-heavyweight division at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, which helped launch his amateur-to-pro pipeline.
Was Evander Holyfield undisputed champion in two different weight classes?
He held undisputed status in the cruiserweight division in the late 1980s and again at heavyweight in the early 1990s. That makes him one of the very few fighters in the three-belt era to achieve undisputed recognition in two separate weight categories.
What does the nickname "the Real Deal" signify?
The moniker underscores Holyfield's reputation as a legitimate, no-strings-attached champion rather than a one-belt or divisional contender. Fans and commentators used it to distinguish his all-around dominance from boxers who held only a single sanctioning-body strap.
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