Holyfield faced Chris Byrd for the IBF heavyweight championship on December 14, 2002, only to lose the bout in a unanimous decision. Holyfield was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017. Corrections? Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Competing as a light heavyweight at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, he was disqualified in the semifinal bout for knocking out his opponent, Kevin Barry of New Zealand, while the referee was attempting to separate the fighters. Updates? Black Friday Sale! Además ganó la medalla de bronce en la división de los pesos semipesados en los Juegos Olímpicos de Los Ángeles 1984, tras perder por una controvertida descalificación en las semifinales, contra el boxeador de Nueva Zelanda Kevin Barry. In April 1988, with an eighth-round knockout of Carlos DeLeon, Holyfield became boxing’s first undisputed cruiserweight champion. 11 -- Michael Dokes, Las Vegas, TKO 10July 15 -- Adilson Rodrigues, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, KO 2Nov. Boxing's Official Record Keeper ... results. Take a jab at this quiz to learn about the sport’s interesting history. On April 22, 1994, in a World Boxing Organization (WBO) match and Holyfield’s first defense after regaining the titles, he lost a 12-round decision to Michael Moorer. 13 -- Sultan Ibragimov, Moscow, Russia, L 12(For WBO Heavyweight Title), Dec. 20 -- Nicolay Valuev, Zurich, Switzerland, L 12(For WBA Heavyweight Title), 04-10 -- Francois Botha, Las Vegas, NV, TKO 8, 01-22 -- Sherman Williams, White Sulphur Springs, WV, NC 305-07 -- Brian Nielsen, Copenhagen, Denmark, TKO 10. events. After defeating Bobby Czyz in his next match, Holyfield met heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in a much-anticipated WBA bout on November 9, 1996. 13 -- Lennox Lewis, New York, D 12(Retained IBF and WBA heavyweight titles)Nov. 13 -- Lennox Lewis, Las Vegas, L 12(Lost IBF and WBA heavyweight titles), Aug. 12 -- John Ruiz, Las Vegas, W 12(Regained WBA heavyweight title), March 3 -- John Ruiz, Las Vegas, L 12(Lost WBA heavyweight title)Dec. 15 -- John Ruiz, Mashantucket, CT, D 12(For WBA heavyweight title), June 1 -- Hasim Rahman, Atlantic City, W Tech Dec 8Dec. 4 -- Riddick Bowe, Las Vegas, TKO by 8, May 10 -- Bobby Czyz, New York City, TKO 6Nov. Holyfield regained the IBF title by knocking out Moorer in the eighth round of their November 8, 1997, rematch. 9 -- Carlos DeLeon, Las Vegas, TKO 8(Captured undisputed cruiserweight title)July 16 -- James Tillis, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, KO 8Dec. Omissions? Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. After the bout, he was diagnosed with a heart defect and announced his retirement. In his next important title defense, he faced the British fighter and WBC champion Lennox Lewis. Though Tyson was heavily favoured to win, Holyfield scored a stunning upset with a technical knockout in the 11th round, becoming the heavyweight champion for a third time. In a rematch with Bowe one year later, he recaptured the WBA and IBF titles in another decision. He then lost matches to Sultan Ibragimov (in October 2007) and Nikolay Valuev (in December 2008) for the WBO and WBA titles, respectively. Evander Holyfield (Atmore, Alabama, 19 de octubre de 1962) es un exboxeador profesional estadounidense y campeón mundial, tanto del campeonato peso pesado como del crucero. The diagnosis was later reversed, however, and Holyfield resumed boxing, winning a 10-round decision over Ray Mercer on May 20, 1995. Evander Holyfield, byname the Real Deal, (born October 19, 1962, Atmore, Alabama, U.S.), American boxer, the only professional fighter to win the heavyweight championship four separate times and thereby surpass the record of Muhammad Ali, who won it three times. The youngest of nine children, Holyfield was much younger than his other siblings and was born from a different father. In April 1988, with an eighth-round knockout of Carlos DeLeon, Holyfield became boxing’s first undisputed cruiserweight champion. 21 -- Anthony Davis, Virginia Beach, Virginia, KO 4, Mar. 9 -- Pinklon Thomas, Atlantic City, TKO 7, Mar. Evan Holyfield. Here's a run through his fight by fight career record as a prizefighter. Holyfield was selected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Evander-Holyfield, Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame - Biography of Evander Holyfield, New Georgia Encyclopedia - Sports and Outdoor Recreation - Biography of Evander Holyfield, The HistoryMakers - Biography of Evander Holyfield, Evander Holyfield - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Evander Holyfield was born on October 19, 1962, in the mill town of Atmore, Alabama. He plans to get back to minting … Lewis was stripped of the WBA title on April 12, 2000, because of a mandatory defense controversy. He got retired in 2014 with a career record of 44 wins, ten losses, and two draws. 4 -- Alex Stewart, Atlantic City, TKO 8, June 1 -- Seamus McDonagh, Atlantic City, TKO 4Oct. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Jan. 20 -- Eric Winbush, Atlantic City, W 6Mar. Evander 'The Real Deal' Holyfield had a career to remember that saw him become the first world cruiserweight champion to become heavyweight champion at the time. In November 1984 Holyfield turned professional, and in 1986 he won the junior heavyweight title by upsetting World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi in a 15-round split decision. Three months later he fought his first heavyweight bout, knocking out James Tillis in five rounds. 29 -- Rick Myers, Atlanta, KO 1Oct. people. 22 -- Michael Moorer, Las Vegas, L 12(Lost WBA and IBF heavyweight titles), May 20 -- Ray Mercer, Atlantic City, W 10Nov. 30 -- Jeff Meachem, Atlantic City, KO 5Dec. 14 -- Chris Byrd, Atlantic City, L 12(For IBF heavyweight title), Oct. 4 -- James Toney, Las Vegas, TKO by 9, Aug. 18 -- Jeremy Bates, Dallas, TX, TKO 2Nov. On August 12, 2000, Holyfield defeated John Ruiz to win the vacant WBA heavyweight title but lost to Ruiz in a rematch in 2001. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Boxing first appeared as a formal Olympic event in the 23rd Olympiad (688 BCE). 19 -- Larry Holmes, Las Vegas, W 12(Retained undisputed world heavyweight title)Nov. 13 -- Riddick Bowe, Las Vegas, L 12(Lost undisputed world heavyweight title), June 26 -- Alex Stewart, Atlantic City, W 12Nov. Save 50% off a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. After successful defenses against former champions George Foreman and Larry Holmes, Holyfield lost the title on November 13, 1992, dropping a 12-round decision to Riddick Bowe. 19 -- George Foreman, Atlantic City, W 12(Retained undisputed world heavyweight title)Nov. 23 -- Bert Cooper, Atlanta, TKO 7(Retained undisputed world heavyweight title), Jun. Amid controversy, the International Olympic Committee subsequently awarded Holyfield the bronze medal. Premium Membership is now 50% off! He began boxing at age seven and won the Boys Club boxing tournament. By age 15, Holyfield became the Southeastern Regiona… 25 -- Buster Douglas, Las Vegas, KO 3(Captured undisputed world heavyweight title), Apr. After losing a decision to journeyman Larry Donald in 2004, Holyfield had his New York boxing license revoked because of his apparently deteriorating skills. In his third fight with Bowe, on November 4, 1995, Holyfield scored a knockdown in the sixth round but lost by a knockout in the eighth. titles. 6 -- Jesse Shelby, Corpus Christi, Texas, KO 3May 28 -- Terry Mims, Metairie, Louisiana, KO 5July 20 -- Dwight Qawi, Atlanta, W 15(Captured WBA cruiserweight title)Dec. 8 -- Michael Brothers, Paris, KO 3, Feb. 14 -- Henry Tillman, Reno, Nevada, TKO 7(Retained WBA cruiserweight title)May 15 -- Rickey Parkey, Las Vegas, TKO 3(Unified WBA and IBF crusierweight titles)Aug. 15 -- Ossie Ocasio, St. Tropez, France, TKO 11(Retained WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles)Dec. 4 -- Dwight Qawi, Atlantic City, TKO 4(Retained WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles), Apr. As an amateur boxer, Holyfield compiled a record of 160–14 and won the national Golden Gloves championship in 1984. 1 -- Chisanda Mutti, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, KO 3Apr. wiki. 9 -- Mike Tyson, Las Vegas, KO 11(Regained WBA heavyweight title), June 28 -- Mike Tyson, Las Vegas, W DQ 3(Retained WBA heavyweight title)Nov. 8 -- Michael Moorer, Las Vegas, TKO 8(Unified IBF and WBA heavyweight titles), Sep. 19 -- Vaughn Bean, Atlanta, W 12(Retained IBF heavyweight title), Mar. Holyfield continued to fight after those two losses, but the bouts were of a much lesser quality and the title he won (from the World Boxing Federation in 2010) was not widely recognized. Evander Holyfield grimacing with pain after being bitten on the ear by Mike Tyson in a 1997 championship bout. 6 -- Riddick Bowe, Las Vegas, W 12(Regained WBA and IBF heavyweight titles), Apr. champions. Amateur Boxing Career 7 bouts. forum. He successfully defended his title on June 28, 1997, in a rematch against Tyson, who was disqualified after the third round for biting Holyfield’s ears. 13 -- Freddie Brown, Norfolk, Virginia, KO 1Apr. ID# 863501. 17 -- Vinny Maddalone, Corpus Christi, TX, TKO 3June 30 -- Lou Savarese, El Paso, TX, W 10Oct. Still, Holyfield retained his WBA and IBF titles until the rematch on November 13, 1999, when Holyfield lost a 12-round decision to Lewis, which enabled Lewis to claim the WBA and IBF belts and thereby unify the heavyweight title. Andrew Eisele is a boxing writer who has covered the sport for Time, Inc. He published his autobiography entitled Holyfield: The Humble Warrior. On March 13, 1999, the judges determined the bout a draw, though nearly all observers felt the match belonged to Lewis. Holyfield returned to the ring after a 21-month absence in August 2006 and proceeded to win four consecutive bouts over the following year. watching. At 13, he qualified to compete in his first Junior Olympics. Evander 'The Real Deal' Holyfield had a career to remember that saw him become the first world cruiserweight champion to become heavyweight champion at the time. Holyfield's family later moved to Atlanta, Georgiawhere he was raised in the crime-ridden Bowen Homes Housing Projects. 10 -- Fres Oquendo, San Antonio, TX, W 12, Mar. He also hosts TV and radio sports talk shows. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Standing 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 metres) tall and weighing 218 pounds (98.9 kg), Holyfield often faced much larger opponents as a heavyweight, but his diligent training habits and exceptional durability in the ring helped to make up for his lack of size. In December of that year Holyfield and Ruiz met again; the bout ended as a draw, allowing Ruiz to keep the title. He retired in 2014 with a career record of 44 wins (29 by knockout), 10 losses, and 2 draws. LiveAbout uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, Total Pro Record - 44 Wins, 10 Losses, 2 Draw, 1 No Contest, 29 Knockouts, Felix Trinidad Fight-by-Fight Career Record, Bernard Hopkins Fight-By-Fight Career Record, Oscar De La Hoya Career Record, Fight-by-Fight, George Foreman's Fight-By-Fight Career Record, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fight-by-Fight Career Record, Laila Ali - The Boxer Who Never Lost a Fight. In November 1984 Holyfield turned professional, and in 1986 he won the junior heavyweight title by upsetting World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi in a 15-round split decision. On October 25, 1990, he scored a third-round knockout of James (“Buster”) Douglas to win the undisputed heavyweight title of the WBA, the World Boxing Council (WBC), and the International Boxing Federation (IBF). 20 -- Mark Rivera, Corpus Christi, Texas, KO 2July 20 -- Tyrone Booze, Norfolk, Virginia, W 8Aug. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Here's a run through his fight by fight career record as a prizefighter. date.