History of Evander Holyfield in Timeline
Evander Holyfield, nicknamed "the Real Deal", is a renowned American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2011. A remarkable achievement in his career was becoming the undisputed champion at both cruiserweight (late 1980s) and heavyweight (early 1990s). This made him the only boxer to achieve undisputed championships in two weight classes during the "three belt era", a feat later matched by other boxers in the four-belt era. Holyfield is notably the only four-time world heavyweight champion, holding various combinations of WBA, WBC, and IBF titles throughout the 1990s and into 2000.
October 19, 1962: Birth of Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield was born on October 19, 1962.
1980: High School Graduation
Holyfield graduated from Fulton High School in 1980.
1983: Pan American Games
Holyfield won a silver medal at the 1983 Pan American Games.
November 15, 1984: Professional Debut
Holyfield made his professional boxing debut on November 15, 1984, with a win against Lionel Byarm.
1984: Amateur Boxing Record
By 1984, Holyfield had an amateur boxing record of 160 wins and 14 losses.
1984: Olympic Bronze Medal
Holyfield won a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
1984: Amateur Boxing and Olympic Debut
In 1984, Evander Holyfield represented the United States at the Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal.
1984: Amateur and Olympic Representation
In 1984, Holyfield represented the United States at the Summer Olympics.
January 20, 1985: Win against Eric Winbush
Holyfield won against Eric Winbush on January 20, 1985.
July 20, 1985: Move to Cruiserweight and Win against Tyrone Booze
Holyfield moved up to cruiserweight and defeated Tyrone Booze on July 20, 1985.
1986: WBA Cruiserweight Champion
Holyfield became the WBA Cruiserweight Champion in 1986 after defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi.
1987: Unified Cruiserweight Champion
In 1987, Holyfield unified the WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles by defeating Ricky Parkey. He also had a rematch with Muhammad Qawi, winning by knockout.
1988: Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion
Holyfield became the undisputed cruiserweight champion in 1988, defeating Carlos De León.
1988: Holyfield's Heavyweight Debut
In 1988, Evander Holyfield moved up to the Heavyweight division and won three fights, including victories over James "Quick" Tillis and Pinklon Thomas by knockout.
1988: Bowe's Olympic Success
Riddick Bowe won a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics in the super heavyweight division, before facing Holyfield in a professional bout.
1989: Holyfield's Continued Heavyweight Ascent
During 1989, Holyfield continued his heavyweight campaign, notably defeating Michael Dokes in a fight considered one of the best of the decade, and winning against Adilson Rodrigues and Alex Stewart.
October 25, 1990: Holyfield Becomes Undisputed Heavyweight Champion
On October 25, 1990, Holyfield defeated Buster Douglas to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
1990: Undisputed Heavyweight Champion
Holyfield became the undisputed heavyweight champion in 1990, holding the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles.
1990: Victory over Buster Douglas
Holyfield defeated Buster Douglas in 1990 to win the unified WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles.
1990: Douglas' Upset and Holyfield's Opportunity
In 1990, Buster Douglas' unexpected victory over Mike Tyson changed the landscape of the heavyweight division, leading to Holyfield facing Douglas instead of Tyson for the undisputed championship.
1990: Film Debut and Production
In 1990, Evander Holyfield made his film debut in "Blood Salvage", which he also produced.
1990: Holyfield's Number One Contender Status
In 1990, Holyfield defeated Seamus McDonagh, solidifying his position as the top heavyweight contender despite not yet receiving a title shot against Tyson.
November 1991: Tyson's Imprisonment Delays Title Fight
A title fight between Holyfield and Mike Tyson, scheduled for November 1991, was postponed due to Tyson's injury and subsequent conviction for rape, preventing the fight from happening as planned.
1991: Appearance in "Necessary Roughness"
In 1991, Evander Holyfield appeared in the film "Necessary Roughness".
1992: First Professional Loss
Holyfield suffered his first professional loss to Riddick Bowe in 1992.
1992: Holyfield vs. Holmes
In 1992, Holyfield defeated former champion Larry Holmes by unanimous decision, despite suffering a cut above his eye during the bout.
November 6, 1993: Holyfield vs. Bowe II: "The Fan Man Fight"
On November 6, 1993, Holyfield regained his heavyweight titles in a rematch against Riddick Bowe, interrupted by a parachutist landing in the ring, an event that became known as the "Fan Man Fight." This victory contributed to Holyfield being named ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year for 1993.
1993: Regaining the Heavyweight Titles
Holyfield regained the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles in 1993 by defeating Riddick Bowe in a rematch.
1993: Holyfield vs. Stewart II
In 1993, Holyfield won a rematch against Alex Stewart by unanimous decision after twelve rounds.
April 1994: Holyfield's Loss to Moorer and Retirement
In April 1994, Holyfield lost to Michael Moorer and was subsequently diagnosed with a heart condition, leading to his retirement from boxing. There were later questions about whether this heart condition was related to HGH use.
1994: Loss to Michael Moorer
Holyfield lost the WBA and IBF titles to Michael Moorer in 1994.
1994: Temporary Retirement
Holyfield temporarily retired in 1994 due to medical advice.
1994: Nickelodeon Guts Appearance
In 1994, Evander Holyfield made a guest appearance on the Nickelodeon game show "Nickelodeon Guts".
1995: Holyfield's Return and Victory over Mercer
In 1995, Holyfield returned to boxing after his retirement and defeated Ray Mercer, knocking down Mercer for the first time in Mercer's career.
1996: Victory over Mike Tyson
Holyfield defeated Mike Tyson in 1996, reclaiming the WBA heavyweight title.
1996: Olympic Torchbearer
In 1996, Evander Holyfield carried the Olympic torch as it made its way to his hometown of Atlanta for the Olympic games.
1996: Holyfield vs. Tyson I
In 1996, Holyfield and Tyson finally fought, with Holyfield winning by TKO in the 11th round.
June 28, 1997: Holyfield vs. Tyson II: "The Bite Fight"
On June 28, 1997, the rematch between Holyfield and Tyson, dubbed "The Bite Fight," ended dramatically with Tyson biting Holyfield's ear and being disqualified.
1997: Rematch with Mike Tyson
Holyfield won a rematch against Mike Tyson in 1997, with Tyson being disqualified for biting Holyfield's ear.
1997: Holyfield vs. Tyson II: "The Bite Fight"
The 1997 rematch between Holyfield and Tyson, known as "The Bite Fight," ended with Tyson's disqualification after biting Holyfield's ears.
1998: Holyfield vs. Bean
In 1998, Holyfield defended his title against Vaughn Bean, winning by decision but showing signs of age impacting his performance.
1999: Controversial Draw with Lennox Lewis
Holyfield faced Lennox Lewis in a controversial draw in 1999 for the undisputed heavyweight title.
1999: Fight with Lennox Lewis
Holyfield fought Lennox Lewis in 1999, resulting in a controversial draw.
1999: Appearance in "Summer of Sam"
In 1999, Evander Holyfield appeared in the film "Summer of Sam".
1999: Holyfield vs. Lewis I
In March 1999, Holyfield fought Lennox Lewis in a unification bout that ended in a controversial draw. Holyfield attributed his performance to stomach and leg cramps. A rematch was ordered.
2000: Fourth Heavyweight Title Reign
Holyfield defeated John Ruiz in 2000 for the vacant WBA title, his fourth heavyweight title reign.
2000: Holyfield's Fourth Heavyweight Championship
In 2000, Evander Holyfield fought John Ruiz for the WBA world title belt. He won by a controversial unanimous decision, becoming the first boxer to win the World Heavyweight Championship four times.
March 2001: Loss to John Ruiz
In March 2001, Evander Holyfield lost his WBA title to John Ruiz, who became the first Hispanic Heavyweight champion.
2001: Loss to John Ruiz
Holyfield lost the WBA title to John Ruiz in a rematch in 2001.
December 14, 2002: Loss to Chris Byrd
On December 14, 2002, Evander Holyfield fought Chris Byrd for the IBF Heavyweight Championship but lost by unanimous decision.
2002: Victory over Hasim Rahman
In 2002, Evander Holyfield fought Hasim Rahman to determine who would face Lennox Lewis next. Holyfield won by a technical decision after the fight was stopped due to a hematoma on Rahman's forehead.
2002: Ring Magazine Ranking
In 2002, The Ring magazine ranked Holyfield as the 22nd greatest fighter of the past 80 years.
October 4, 2003: Loss to James Toney
On October 4, 2003, Evander Holyfield lost to James Toney by TKO in the ninth round.
November 13, 2004: Loss to Larry Donald
On November 13, 2004, Evander Holyfield lost to Larry Donald by unanimous decision. This marked his third consecutive loss.
August 2005: Banned by New York State Athletic Commission
In August 2005, the New York State Athletic Commission banned Evander Holyfield from boxing in New York due to "diminishing skills."
2005: Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing
In 2005, Evander Holyfield participated in "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC) and "Strictly Come Dancing" (BBC), showcasing his dancing skills. He placed fifth in "Dancing with the Stars" with Edyta Sliwinska.
August 18, 2006: Victory over Jeremy Bates
On August 18, 2006, Evander Holyfield defeated Jeremy Bates by TKO in the second round.
November 10, 2006: Victory over Fres Oquendo
On November 10, 2006, Evander Holyfield defeated Fres Oquendo by unanimous decision.
February 28, 2007: Linked to Steroid Investigation
On February 28, 2007, Evander Holyfield was anonymously linked to Applied Pharmacy Services, a pharmacy under investigation for supplying athletes with performance-enhancing drugs. Holyfield denied using such substances.
March 10, 2007: Public Response to Steroid Allegations
On March 10, 2007, Evander Holyfield announced that he would conduct his own investigation into the steroid allegations to clear his name.
March 17, 2007: Victory over Vinny Maddalone
On March 17, 2007, Evander Holyfield defeated Vinny Maddalone by TKO after Maddalone's corner stopped the fight.
June 30, 2007: Victory over Lou Savarese
On June 30, 2007, Evander Holyfield defeated Lou Savarese by unanimous decision, knocking Savarese down twice during the fight.
August 13, 2007: WWE Saturday Night's Main Event XXXV
On August 13, 2007, it was confirmed that Evander Holyfield would participate in a boxing match at WWE's Saturday Night's Main Event XXXV, replacing Montel Vontavious Porter. He faced Matt Hardy at the event.
September 2007: Holyfield Linked to HGH Investigation
In September 2007, Evander Holyfield's name surfaced during a raid on Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, Florida, for illegally supplying professional athletes with steroids and HGH.
September 22, 2007: Real Deal Grill Release
On September 22, 2007, Evander Holyfield launched "The Real Deal Grill" cooking appliance, manufactured by Cirtran Corp., which was promoted through TV infomercials.
October 13, 2007: Loss to Sultan Ibragimov
On October 13, 2007, Evander Holyfield fought Sultan Ibragimov for the WBO Heavyweight title but lost by unanimous decision.
2007: Zaxby's Commercials
In late 2007, Evander Holyfield appeared in television advertisements for the restaurant chain Zaxby's.
December 20, 2008: Fight against Nikolai Valuev
On December 20, 2008, Evander Holyfield fought WBA Heavyweight Champion Nikolai Valuev in Zurich, Switzerland.
2008: Zaxby's Commercials Continued
Evander Holyfield continued appearing in commercials for Zaxby's into early 2008.
2009: Controversial Loss to Nikolai Valuev
In 2009, the fight between Evander Holyfield and Nikolai Valuev resulted in a controversial majority decision loss for Holyfield.
January 16, 2010: Scheduled Fight with Francois Botha (Postponed)
Evander Holyfield was scheduled to fight Francois Botha on January 16, 2010, in Kampala, Uganda, but the fight was postponed.
February 20, 2010: Scheduled Fight with Francois Botha (Postponed Again)
The fight between Evander Holyfield and Francois Botha, originally scheduled for January 16, 2010, was postponed to February 20, 2010, but was postponed again.
April 10, 2010: Victory over Francois Botha
On April 10, 2010, Evander Holyfield fought Francois Botha and won by knockout in the eighth round, winning the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Heavyweight title.
January 22, 2011: No Contest against Sherman Williams
On January 22, 2011, Evander Holyfield fought Sherman Williams. The bout was ruled a no contest after Holyfield suffered a cut in the third round and couldn't continue.
March 5, 2011: Scheduled Fight with Brian Nielsen (Postponed)
A fight between Evander Holyfield and Brian Nielsen was scheduled for March 5, 2011, in Denmark but was postponed.
May 7, 2011: Rescheduled Fight with Brian Nielsen
The fight between Evander Holyfield and Brian Nielsen, originally scheduled for March 5, 2011, was rescheduled for May 7, 2011, in Denmark.
2011: Appearance in "Arthur" Remake
Evander Holyfield appeared as himself in the 2011 remake of the film "Arthur".
2011: Retirement from Professional Boxing
Evander Holyfield retired from professional boxing in 2011.
2012: Contemplating Retirement
In 2012, Evander Holyfield considered retiring from boxing, stating he had accomplished everything he wanted in the sport. However, he later changed his mind and expressed his desire to continue competing.
2012: Financial Troubles Reported
In 2012, The Independent reported that Evander Holyfield was facing financial difficulties and bankruptcy despite having earned a considerable amount during his boxing career.
January 3, 2014: Enters Celebrity Big Brother
On January 3, 2014, Evander Holyfield entered the Celebrity Big Brother (UK) house as a contestant.
January 6, 2014: Reprimanded on Celebrity Big Brother
On January 6, 2014, Evander Holyfield was reprimanded by Celebrity Big Brother for comments he made about homosexuality.
January 10, 2014: Evicted from Celebrity Big Brother
On January 10, 2014, Evander Holyfield became the first housemate to be evicted from Celebrity Big Brother.
June 2014: Retirement from Boxing
In June 2014, Evander Holyfield announced his final retirement from boxing after a long and successful career. He then became a boxing advisor to heavyweight prospect Zhang Zhilei.
2015: International Sports Hall of Fame Induction
Holyfield was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
2015: Charity Boxing Match with Mitt Romney
In 2015, Evander Holyfield participated in a friendly exhibition boxing match with Mitt Romney for charity in Utah. The event aimed to raise funds for CharityVision.
May 2016: Bailando 2016 Appearance
In May 2016, Evander Holyfield joined the Argentine dancing reality show "Bailando 2016".
2017: Statue Commissioned
In 2017, the city of Atlanta commissioned a statue of Evander Holyfield, designed by sculptor Brian Hanlon, to be installed in Downtown Atlanta.
2019: Income from Appearances
As of 2019, Evander Holyfield was reportedly earning about $1.2 million annually, primarily through personal appearances.
2019: Carolina Hurricanes Appearance
In 2019, Evander Holyfield participated in the Carolina Hurricanes' "Storm Surge" celebration, playfully pretending to knock out player Jordan Martinook.
April 16, 2021: Planned Comeback Fight Announcement
On April 16, 2021, it was announced that Evander Holyfield would return to the ring on June 5, 2021, for an exhibition bout against Kevin McBride.
June 5, 2021: Postponed Comeback Fight
Evander Holyfield's planned comeback fight against Kevin McBride on June 5, 2021, was ultimately postponed and did not materialize. Holyfield later filed a demand for arbitration against Triller.
September 3, 2021: Last Professional Fight
On September 3, 2021, news broke that Evander Holyfield would replace Oscar De La Hoya in a fight against Vitor Belfort. The fight, initially planned for California but moved to Florida due to sanctioning issues, took place on September 11, 2021, and resulted in Holyfield's loss by first-round TKO.
