Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield is a skilled boxer with the nickname The Real Deal. He fought in the Olympics, and was the World Heavyweight Champion from 1990 – 1992. He held the title once more from 1993 – 1994.

In the Beginning

Evander Holyfield was born on October 19, 1962 in Atmore, Alabama, but grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. As a child, he took many boxing lessons, helping to lay the foundation for his future. As he grew older, he competed in the Golden Glove competitions during the 1980s. He won the national Golden Gloves Championship in 1984. Soon after, he was able to make it onto the U.S. Olympic team. He participated in the 1984 Olympics being held in Los Angeles. Sadly, he saw disappointment in the ring.  Evander was disqualified while in a semifinal match with Kevin Barry of New England, because hit his opponent after a break. There were people who disputed the call the referee made. However, Evander did earn the bronze medal regardless.

Career Accomplishments

Evander won the bronze medal during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics before starting his professional boxing career. He became the Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World after he defeated James “Buster” Douglas in 1990. He eventually lost the title to Riddick Bowe in 1992. Evander was able to win it back when he had a rematch with Bowe. Evander lost the title a second time when Michael Moore won it in 1994. In 1999, he went up against Lennox Lewis. The first match they had ended with a draw. They had another rematch later in the year, but Lewis came out as the victor. Evander did win his fourth championship in 2000 though, winning the WBA championship from John Ruiz, but he once again lost the victory to Ruiz the following year.

Most Known For

While Evander Holyfield is famous for his participation in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles for the bronze medal he won. Many people recall Evander Holyfield for the fight he had with Mike Tyson. Evander had defeated Tyson previously in 1996 in order to win the WBA championship. While they were fighting, Tyson bit Evander's ear twice during the match -- taking a chunk out of it. Tyson was disqualified from the fight, and the behavior he demonstrated in the ring became international news. Evander forgave Mike Tyson for what he did, and went on to get his IBF title back from Michael Moore.

Where Are They Now

Evander is still pursuing his boxing career, but it has begun to slow down. He did beat Jeremy Bates with a knockout in 2006. It was the first fight he had had in over two years. Ever since, he has started to look into other business opportunities. He appeared as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2005. He even wrote a memoir called Becoming Holyfield: A Fighter's Journey, which he released in 2008. In 2014, Evander was honored by being inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Mike Tyson was the one who presented Evander with the trophy.