World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Almost 20 years on from their first fight, we look back at the three memorable bouts involving “The Real Deal” and “Big Daddy” On the 13th of November 1992 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, WBC, WBA and IBF Heavyweight Champion of the World, Evander Holyfield defended his titles against Riddick Bowe in a highly anticipated bout which was just the start of an amazing rivalry between two great fighters. Holyfield came into the contest as the former undisputed cruiserweight champion and now undisputed Heavyweight Champion and was unbeaten in all 28 of his match-up’s in his career up to that point. He captured the undisputed crown against the man who ended “Iron” Mike Tyson’s aura of invincibility, James “Buster” Douglas in a three round knockout performance two years earlier and had since defended it three times against George Foreman, Bert Cooper and Larry Holmes. Bowe also came into the contest unbeaten, with an impressive 27 knocko...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Items generate just under $1million Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield’s much publicised auction has failed to make anywhere near the estimated sale price following the fighter’s decision to pull several items. Darren Julien of Julien’s auctions told WBN that the sale made just under $1million dollars, despite predictions that Holyfield could stand to make five times that amouth had he left the sale unaltered. Holyfield, 50, removed some of the more high-profile lots, including his 1984 Olympic bronze medal, amongst others, and Julien’s are squarely putting the blame on to ‘The Real Deal’ for the disappointing outcome.   “Evander destroyed his own auction,” Darren Julien told World Boxing News. “It did just under $1,000,000, but had he supported it and not pulled the key items it would have done $3,000,000 - $5,000,000.  Bidders were very upset that he pulled the key items.  He’s his own worst ene...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor 'Real Deal' claims temporary reprieve over belongings Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has claimed an initial victory in his attempts to block auctioneers Julien’s from selling off some of his most treasured possessions. The 50 year-old began action against the auction house at the beginning of the month after changing his mind on the more sentimental possessions in the 400 plus collection he put of for sale. Some of the items that Holyfield was successful in blocking are his 1984 Olympic bronze medal and the gloves and robes he wore for his infamous 'ear-bite' bout with rival Mike Tyson in 1996. Eleven items in total have been held back at Holyfield's request, although Julien’s boss Darren Julien remains steadfast in his determination that the sale of those items will go ahead at some stage. The auction is pencilled in for November 30 and those few stipulated possessions, as ordered by U.S. District Court Jud...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor In the light of recent revelations that former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield is seeking legal action to halt an auction of his prized boxing memorabilia, Julien's Auctioneers, who are to conduct the sale, have spoken exclusively to WBN to clarify their position. Darren Julien, the founder of the organisation who will sell off Holyfield's possesions, revealed his disapppointment at the ring legend's attempts to block the auction, but insisted that the sale would go ahead as planned on the 30th of this month. "We have been working with Evander Holyfield for the past few months to put together a world class auction of his memorabilia from his career and his personal belongings," Julien told World Boxing News.  "Mr. Holyfield approved the press release as well as the catalogue cover and all the items that are included in the auction.   "We spent time, and considerable money in Atlanta picking up the propert...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former two-weight world champion Evander Holyfield is seeking legal action against an auction of his personal items after suffering financial troubles that led to the sale of his mansion. Julien's auctioneers were ready to put up numerous items from Holyfield's boxing past later this month, but now the 50 year-old fighter is seeking to block the sale of at least 20 of his most famous possessions. One of those is the gloves 'The Real Deal' wore in the infamous 'ear-bite fight' with Mike Tyson in 1996, whilst it is thought his 1984 Olympic bronze medal is another piece Holyfield wishes to pull out of the auction. The four-time heavyweight champion recently announced that he wishes to continue his boxing career just a week after finalising his retirement in the days before his 50th birthday party, and is expected to make a formal announcement on his future soon.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Picture by Stacey Verbeek Heavyweight great continues his fight for another title Eleven-time world champion and American boxing legend Evander Holyfield has reached a life milestone by turning 50 years-old, which now takes on even more significance after his decision to continue fighting beyond his birthday. ‘The Real Deal’ as he is fondly known, made a u-turn announcement this week that he intends to box on into his 50’s and is convinced he can still cut it in the heavyweight division against the best out there. “After my birthday, I’m going to start back training. I still think I have the ability to win,” Holyfield told  Sport on Earth. “I just know I can win. It’s about being smart enough to train to suit who you are, not to train like a young kid, but like an older person who has faith in his ability to do the things needed to win. “I’m very happy. I still live a great life. I go all around the world. People see me as a l...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Real Deal’ says he can beat anyone on eve of milestone Four-time world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has made a dramatic reverse in his decision to announce his retirement at his 50th birthday bash in Beverly Hills tomorrow. The warrior from Atlanta, who is unbeaten since 2008, had publicly stated his intention to hang up his gloves after an offer to fight for a world title failed to materialize, but less than a day later has changed his mind. “I already told people I was going to retire, but this morning, when I woke up, I thought about it some more and now I’m not going to retire,” Holyfield told Sports on Earth. “Boxing is what I do best. It’s what I know.” Holyfield has been holding out for a call from the Klitschko brothers after distancing himself from any fight other than a shot at a world belt, but has so far been disappointed as the Ukrainians avoid a bout with the ageing fighter. “They won’t fight me. The...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Real Deal’ left in limbo as he approaches 50 Boxing legend Evander Holyfield still feels as though he can compete at the highest level in the heavyweight division as the 49 year-old veteran seeks out opportunities to extend his boxing career even further. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion and four-time heavyweight belt holder is on a run of two knockouts since his last world title loss to Nikolai Valuev in 2008 and will hit a landmark 50th year next month. Asked by World Boxing News recently whether he will fight again following a sixteen-month absence from the ring and if so, when that might be, he stated: “I don’t know when because nobody’s called me yet. I want to fight and feel strong, I just need the opportunity.” Holyfield was linked to a WBA title challenge against Alexander Povetkin at the back end of last year and according to his senior advisor Tony Tortorici, the boxing icon is in better shape today than many a...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Real Deal’ won’t give up world title pursuit Two-weight world champion Evander Holyfield has told WBN that recent comments made by WBC title holder Vitali Klitschko would not stop the American pursuing his dream of regaining a version of the world crown. The 49 year-old, who has not held recognised title for twelve years, had actively been seeking a shot at either of the belt-hoarding Ukrainian brothers since scoring back-to-back victories over Frans Botha and Brian Nielsen - without any success. Both Klitschko and younger brother Wladimir, who possesses four of the six main belts, have stated on more than one occasion that they respect Holyfield too much to face him in the ring as he approaches his 50th birthday, which seems to have made the ‘The Real Deal’ more determined as Vitali repeated their stance this week. “If that's what they choose to do then that's what they choose to do, everyone has their own opinion as to what i...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Real Deal’ won’t leave heavyweight scene quietly Evander Holyfield remains hopeful of enticing the world champion Klitschko brothers into a heavyweight tussle in the near future after calling out the brothers once again in a recent interview on UK TV. The 49 year-old, who turns 50 in October, is adamant that the Klitschko’s will be unable to generate the sort of cash that he can and will prolong his career until he is given one more shot at the championship of the world. "Age ain't nothing but a number," Holyfield told Sky Sports . "They (the Klitschkos) have got an opportunity to probably make the biggest payday of their lives fighting Evander Holyfield. They are telling everyone that they respect me, and that they don't want to beat me up. "But I fought George Foreman, I fought Larry Holmes, and I said the same thing. I said that I wouldn't get any credibility from beating someone older. They said 'but,...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Holyfield unanimously defeats Mercer over ten rounds in 1995 Heavyweights set for Nelson Mandela exhibition The Nelson Mandela Boxing Tribute night on February 2nd, 2013 will feature two heavyweight greats battling each other in a rematch almost 18 years in the making as Evander Holyfield and Ray Mercer square up in South Africa. Damian Michael, CEO of Showpony Promotions and organiser of the Cape Town bill, has told WBN that the two former champions have signed on for a four-round exhibition contest and other big names have also been offered places on the card. “Holyfield has signed the contract and he will be up against Ray mercer in a four rounder in honour of Mr. Mandela and I am currently waiting on Roy Jones Jr to sign on the dotted line,” Michael told World Boxing News. “I am also awaiting Steve Cunningham’s signature (at heavyweight) as we have spoken, but I still need to tie up some loose ends. “We have invited George ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Ex-champs tell all to Piers Morgan Heavyweight legends Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis have spoken out on their respective run-ins with one-time ‘Baddest man on the Planet’ Mike Tyson as both were the victims of infamous bites by the boxer-turned Broadway star. Holyfield, 49, and 46 year-old Lewis, who themselves shared the ring twice in 1999, told interviewer Piers Morgan on his CNN show from the Olympic Park in London of being on the end of the youngest ever world heavyweight champion’s extraordinary antics. ‘The Real Deal’ came off decidedly worse than Lewis as the four-time world heavyweight king lost the top of his ear in the aptly-named ‘Bite fight’ at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 1997. "He snagged a piece of it, and it kind of went under the gum, and he spit it out," Holyfield told Morgan on the show . "I was shocked. Out of all the things that could have happened, I never would have thought that would have happ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Real Deal’ awaits next fight call Two-weight world champion Evander Holyfield has given his backing to David Haye against WBC title holder Vitali Klitschko, but only if the Briton comes into the fight 100% following his below-par performance against Wladimir last year. The fighting legend, who turns 50 in October, was impressed with Haye’s victory over Dereck Chisora earlier this month and gives the 'Hayemaker’ a fair chance of dethroning the Ukrainian if their touted March bout is finalised. "Haye v Chisora was a good fight,  David hit hard and had the speed to get the victory, ” Holyfield told World Boxing News. “It’s hard to predict if he can beat Vitali at this point or what he can do on the night, but if he is prepared he may be able to get the win.” Holyfield is still adamant that he will not fight unless there is a title involved and confirmed this when asked if a contest against the former WBA champion was possible....

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Rivals promote ‘Real Deal’ product on anniversary Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield joined forces on the fifteenth anniversary of the infamous ear bite that caused uproar in the boxing world, to promote a new BBQ sauce product with the victim’s name on it. Holyfield, 49, lost a chunk of his lobe to the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ in the incident in 1997, although both men have become fast friends since and used social media site Twitter to make their humorous point.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Real Deal’ still keen on another world title shot Evander Holyfield is still hoping to entice the Klitschko brother’s into a battle after years of being linked to a fight against the Ukrainian world title holders and believes they could make huge sums if they put a fight together. The 49 year-old, who has held multiple world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight and is unbeaten in his last two fights, is on the lookout for his next opponent as he approaches his 50th birthday and says respect for him by the Klitschko's is to blame for a fight not happening yet. “I am trying to tell the Klitschko’s ‘look, its real simple. There’s only one guy out there you can make a big pay day with and that’s me. So let’s do it,” Holyfield said in an interview for his 'Legends' documentary. “But they say ‘oh, we like you and this and this and I am not going to make anybody do it, but you just got to think business wise, and I wouldn’t figh...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Ex-champ speaks out on ear bite years on Evander Holyfield has spoken candidly about his controversial second fight with Mike Tyson, fifteen years on from when ‘The Real Deal’ had the top of his ear bitten off by the former undisputed champion. The 49 year-old, who is still keen on returning to the ring as he approaches his landmark 50th birthday, spoke about the incident in a documentary about him entitled ‘Legends’ and held nothing back when asked how he felt when Tyson gnawed at him in 1997. “I was ticked off. Anything that I could have done, I was getting ready to do it,” said Holyfield in the interview. “My first thought was ‘I am getting ready to chew his ear off!’ because I actually thought he was going to headbutt me or throw an elbow as this is what Tyson does. “When this happened and he bit me on my ear, I jumped up and I turned around and he pushed me, then I could see that he feels like this is the only way he could win. ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Real Deal’ doubts motive for British battle Boxing legend and heavyweight great Evander Holyfield has told WBN that February’s public brawl between David Haye and Dereck Chisora was no more than a stage show to promote their upcoming fight. The 49 year-old, who has been out of the ring for over a year, also says that he wouldn’t consider a fight with either of the British heavyweights, unless they claimed a version of the world title in the near future. “Ideally, I would like to fight Alexander Povetkin or one of the Klitschko’s,” Holyfield told World Boxing News. “I fight with Haye or Chisora is not in my thinking if they don’t possess a belt. If they don't become champions then they are not even on my radar. “Their brawl in Munich was a stunt that could have turned out bad,” expressed the former undisputed champion. “I don’t even think they had anything against each other, except for maybe it was a publicity stunt.” ‘The Real Deal’ has ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former champ talks to Jill Martin at NY Knicks game Mike Tyson has spoken about his infamous ear-biting incident with Evander Holyfield in an interview with MSG reporter Jill Martin for ‘Live from Celebrity Row’ at a recent New York Knicks basketball game. The 45 year-old former undisputed champion was answering quick-fire questions asked by Martin when she brought up the 1997 fight, which ended when Tyson bit off a chunk of Holyfield’s ear leading to referee Mills Lane disqualifying him. At the Q and A, Martin asked Tyson: “One life do-over (one thing you regret)?” To which Tyson replied: “That ‘ear-thing’ was pretty heavy.” Martin then asked: “You would take it back?” and Tyson quipped: “Yes, well at least not his ear.” The one-time ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ has clearly kept his sense of humour about the act which shocked the world when it originally happened 15-years ago. Several meetings and an ongoing forgiveness and friendship wi...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Pride comes before a fall for aging fighters The 1990’s was an era that produced an array of talented fighters, Roy Jones Jr, Bernard Hopkins and Evander Holyfield are three that spring immediately to mind. The suprising thing, is that all three of these former world champions are still vying to compete in the boxing world today. Former undisputed light-heavyweight ruler Roy Jones Jr is now 42 and has lost eight out his last thirteen bouts and was badly knocked out by Russian Denis Lebedev. The former boxing superstar has still refused to confirm his retirement and is said to be considering his options. With his record unimpressive over the last seven years and the fact that four of those losses were awful knockout defeats, maybe his family or the boxing commission should take the decision out of his hands. The same could be said for four-time world heavyweight champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield who at 48, has lost half of his fights ...

Williams pulls out over money wrangle Evander Holyfield’s December 9th WBF title defence has been called off again after opponent Sherman "The Tank" Williams asked for his purse up front and Holyfield’s promoters could not come up with the funds. The bout should have taken place on Bonfire Night originally but was put back to November 12th before being moved again to December 9th, which prompted Williams’ manager Si Stern to ask for a purse advance. “I asked for Sherman’s purse to be advanced because of all the postponements but that never happened,” Stern told boxnews.com.ua. “I was told last week that the promoters again couldn’t come up with the necessary funds and that there would be no fight. All the while tickets were being sold in Detroit and advertisements were out for the new Dec 9th date.” The bout now looks dead in the water and with Holyfield turning 48 in October, time is not on “The Real Deal’s” side as he looks to claim a version of the world title in...