Was just thinking about some heavyweights recently and began to appreciate Holyfield anew. Especially considering some boxers, regardless of weight divisions, and the endless avoiding of fights for business decisions and the desire to avoid risks rather than seeking to fight the best and let the fates decide the outcomes in the square circle. While every boxing aficionado has his/her appreciation of one style over others and appreciates certain attributes shown in a boxer's techniques such as speed, power and timing there is one that I like over all others. This is will and heart. Pure determination. I believe Evander exemplified this quality in his career along with the others aforementioned. A few of his accomplishments in his career which spanned from 1984 until 2011. In 1994 he was the bronze medalist in the Olympics. In 1985, after turning professional he defeated Dwight Muhammad Qawi to become the WBA champion. He then defeated Ricky Parker and Carlos de Leon to beocme WBC AND IBF Undisputed champ After turning heavyweight in 1988 he beat Buster Douglas in 1990 for the WBA, WBC AND IBF titles. He made three defenses. He beat George Foreman and Larry Holmes but then lost to Riddick Bowe. He beat Bowe in a rematch. He lost to Michael Moorer in 1994. He retired in 1994 due to health problems but returned in 1996 and beat Mike Tyson in a fight that Ring magazine called the Fight of the Years. He later defeated Tyson in a rematch which was marred by Tyson deciding to make an ear sandwich during bout. Rather than face defeat Tyson chose the undignified way out. My point is that Holyfield was a real warrior in the ring. He did not run and he would not hide. He always brought it when he entered the ring. When you fight with someone you learn a lot about them. Honesty is there or it is not. Fear, character and strength is in you and your opponent or it is not. No fighter is perfect in or out of the ring. Noone is. However, looking back I just wanted to say he graced the sport more than many and he is sorely missed. All too often we forget until someone passes and then talk about them with the fondness and admiraction we have. Just wanted to say it now. He was and is one of the greats.
Holyfield is definitely one of the greatest fighters to have ever graced the sport. And also one of the richest. He didn't have to endlessly avoid fights like you said to becoming as wealthy as he was either. He was payed great because of his will and heart. Was not afraid to put a loss on his record. You forgot to add the disgraceful daylight robbery "loss" to Nikolai Valuev.
i used to hate evander when he jumped up to the heavies. my oldest childhood friend and lifelong boxing fan told me from the start that holyfield was going to beat everybody. i kept telling him he was too small and was gonna get wrecked vs hw's. i grew to admire his courage and tenacity as he kept proving me wrong. hes left behind an awesome body of work.
And he roided on top of that. Cumulatively speaking, there are things that really tarnish his legacy and accomplishments.
Worse than Ali's neck cranking or Marciano's everywhere where they should be landing punches, but not THAT much worse. Don't know why cheating wouldn't cast a far more negative light on him, despite so fighters doing so regardless.
