Where was Evander Holyfield when you first started watching boxing?

For me it was the "John Ruiz" fight one. People were clamoring that real deal had digressed at this point of time... He done well but that was approximately 20 years ago. He had "3" brutal wars with John Ruiz, perhaps got clipped by the nicest shot of taking during his career. Ouch!

Of course I remember as a kid the bite fight, Holyfield vs Tyson because they kept friggin playing it on ESPN plus it was the bite heard all over the world.

I watched him lump up hasim Rahman, watched him get outboxed by a Larry Donald. I saw him tkod to a young up and coming hw named James toney, he sure took a licking. However I saw that a lot of people gave him the nod in the valuev fight. No matter how old he was that night, he danced on his feet and boxed (slow) beautifully.

What are your guys memories of commander Vander? An icon in the sport. As a hardcore I learnt about the trilogy with Bowe (epic) and saw him demolish I think Bert Cooper while he still had a full head of hair lol. But anyway he said it took him 2 years to get in the shape that he's in at 58. Let's give some flowers to Holyfield for being the blood and guts warrior for all of us for a very long time!

 

Cruiser when I first developed a passing interest, through my dad, in early childhood, hearing names like Hagler and Hearns and Whitaker and Tyson.

Feuding with Lewis when I got sucked into hardcore fandom via the super bantam greats being featured on HBO at the time, about a decade later.

 

I've been following Holyfield from the Olympics. I was thrilled when he beat tough Lionel Byarm in his professional debut. What a career he has had!

 

Byarm's kid Maurice aka Freight Train was tough, too...also a southpaw, and had a bit of prospect buzz going a decade ago before he got derailed by a defeat to By-By Jennings followed by getting KTFO by Adusalamov.

 

I started following boxing in 1975. So, Evander would've been about 12 or 13.

The first time I remember seeing him was during the '84 Olympics. I still remember the night he got disqualified. Seemed pretty ridiculous. The guy he knocked out Kevin Barry (who managed/trained David Tua and Joseph Parker) couldn't even fight in the finals because Evander destroyed him.

I think that's why Evander always enjoyed beating up Tua in sparring. Barry was usually standing around outside the ring when he did it.

 

I saw him having a hard time to beat Alex Stewart back in 80s. That's the first time I saw Holyfield fight. I wasnt impress but always thought he had that extra grit.

 

Buster Douglas for me as well...I was 7 at the time.

 

Somewhere between Qwai and Cooper. Age 20 when he tapped buster

 

Cruiser is where i was introduced to the Real Deal

 

In a retirement home

 

He was in 7th grade.

 

The real deal is probably my favourite fighter. I remember watching him vs Bowe 2 when I was just a young lad.

 

Retired