Taken from Evanders website http://www.evanderholyfield.com/bio/amateur-heights/ In 1983 the U.S. Olympic Committee staged its Sports Festival event in Colorado Springs. Evander won his division by defeating the heavily-favored Ricky Womack and became the #1 ranked amateur in the United States. He also earned a slot in the PanAm Games and was invited to train with the U.S. Olympic team in Colorado. Evander lost to a Cuban at the PanAm’s, but came back with a vengeance at the Golden Gloves in St. Louis the following year. That was where he met Mike Tyson, and even though they were in different weight divisions, they began a friendly rivalry to see who could turn in the best performance. Tyson knocked out four of his five opponents, but Evander knocked out all five of his. This didn’t sit well with Mike, even though he was awarded the “Most Outstanding Boxer” title anyway. At the Olympic trials for the 1984 Games Evander faced Ricky Womack again. Ricky was now the #1 amateur in the world and this time he beat Evander, which led to a box-off between the two for who would get the Olympic slot. Evander had to fight Ricky twice, on consecutive days, and win both bouts in order to get the Olympic slot. He did just that, and was now ranked #1 in the world to boot. But the trials weren’t quite over for Evander. Mike Tyson was there for his own box-off and still hadn’t forgotten Evander’s five knockouts at the Golden Gloves vs. his four. Somebody said, “Hey, wouldn’t it be cool to see Mike and Evander go at it!” This despite the fact that Mike was in the heavyweight division and Evander was two categories smaller. But with a lot of urging from the other guys, Mike and Evander got into the ring together. It probably didn’t help Mike’s mood any that his Olympic Trials roommate, Rickey Womack, had just lost the Olympic spot to Evander. What was supposed to be “a little friendly sparring” turned into such an all-out slugfest that an official ran over to call it off and warned the two not to “spar” with each other again. Evander’s amateur career ended with 160 wins and 14 losses, with 75 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Mike Tyson lost two controversial decisions to Henry Tillman and didn’t go to the Olympics. Im trying to get a link about the sparring session from Evanders book. This is the best i can do. You can increase the size with the magnifying glass http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...XRBZ7HgLAL&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAw#v=twopage&q&f=true
That's straight out of his book. What it misses out is that in the late eighties and early ninties Holyfield was involved in an anti-bullying thing in the schools. He used to bring up the importance of standing up to bullies and then stun teachers by explaining his strategy for beatingn Mike Tyson who he considers such Also important is the confrontation over the pool table.
I agree, Holyfield wasnt scared of Tyson. But to me the sparring session seems to show that both went at it and there was no clear winner as such. Whereas Tyrell Biggs who was present stated Tyson got the worse of it.
The funny thing is his website states Tyson and Ricky Womack were roomates, thats some crazy **** with those 2 nutjobs together in one room
These two guys clearly saw a rivalry there. No trouble believing they were going at it. Evander never fails to give Tyson credit. Simply says that he thought he could beat him.
What happened at the pool table my friend? Holyfield always had the ability to stare right at that Tyson mystique, and not blink.
I wonder if the smaller Holyfield got bullied and it built a head of steam under him until he faced Tyson in '96
Going by some of the logic here Ricky Womack ruled the roost. Womack got robbed against Holy for the olympic berth and made him cry once in the locker room. The reality is that all these guys were kids at the time and their amateur rivalries, while colorful, mean little in regards to their overall legacies.
It really doesn't negate the fact that Tyson had the more emphatic, dominating stretch as a heavyweight. Holyfield has nothing that matches Tyson from 86-89. Still, Holyfield is a bad ass, though and through. Who would have won in 88-90?
I wish Evander gave a much more honest interview after their first fight, Maybe about their history/rivalry, instead of the whole 'God' speech. The funny thing is, ive got Tysons book and theres hardly much mention of Holyfield. Whenever he is mentioned, its as if Holyfield was a nobody compared to Tyson. Yes amateur rivalries always carry on, my brother fought guys that have now turned pro. I think Holyfield also slightly suffered the same problem as Holmes did after Ali. He came after a dominant popular champ. Ive watched a documentary where Holy stated Tyson was one dimensional but he was very good at that one dimension. He also stated that whatever he did was in vain because people would always whisper to him that he never beat Tyson and Tyson really beat himself
It seems that way to me, normally bullied kids are the ones that truly stand up to bullies (after a while) Same as Tyson, he was a bullied child who turned into a complete monster Ive watched a video on youtube where Bowe says he used to bully tyson and make fun of him and call him 'Bummy Ike' because Tysons clothes were always ripped
