The Real Deal: Boxing's Ultimate Warrior
(eBook)

Evander Holyfield grew up in the ghettos of Atmore, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. His mother raised him to work hard, respect others, and not squander his God-given talents or quit - ever. Young Holyfield dreamed of playing for his beloved Atlanta Falcons. Alas, the coaches overlooked him due to his lack of size. Fortunately, the young boy stumbled across the boxing club, and he was hooked ever since. Rising through the amateur ranks, he eventually gained a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team and took part in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. After throwing the punch of the tournament that unjustly got him disqualified and earned him a bronze medal, Holyfield found himself to be a household name. He built on his Olympic success to become the first man to win the undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight world titles. Holyfield was never afraid to swap blows with men naturally bigger than him. His warrior's spirit helped him withstand the heavy bombs of George Foreman, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson. He broke many pay-per-view records along the way and found himself in some of the most bizarre incidents of ring history; who could forget Fan Man failing to gatecrash his way into the ring in the rematch with Bowe, overcoming a suspected heart attack in the ring against Moorer and of course the infamous Bite Fight with Tyson. The Real Deal: Boxing's Ultimate Warrior also takes you through Holyfield's stormy private life whilst becoming the only man to win a version of the heavyweight title on four separate occasions.