The Boxing History Blog

Evander Holyfield The only undisputed cruiserweight & undisputed heavyweight champion 25th October 1990, The Mirage Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada Undisputed Heavyweight Title James 'Buster' Douglas Vs Evander Holyfield Douglas Vs Holyfield In Tokyo on 11th February 1990 the undisputed number one heavyweight contender watched the 42-1 outsider James 'Buster' Douglas knock out 'Iron' Mike Tyson in ten rounds to become the new undisputed champion of the world. Evander Holyfield's dream match in June against Tyson was now wishful thinking thanks to 'Buster's' right uppercut. Douglas then became embroiled in a long legal battle with Don King over a contract dispute. Douglas claimed that King breached their contract when he tried to get the Tyson victory overturned. They settled out of court, with King having the rights to stage a Douglas-Tyson rematch, but first, the new champion had to face his mandatory contender....

Evander Holyfield  Chasing Tyson After beating Carlos De Leon in April 1988 to become undisputed cruiserweight champion, Evander Holyfield put on twelve pounds and stepped up to the heavyweight division. His first opponent was James 'Quick' Tllis. The bout took place on 16th July 1988 in Las Vegas. Tillis' first loss came in a WBA heavyweight title challenge to Mike Weaver, losing a fifteen round unanimous decision in October 1981. He suffered his second loss to future WBC champion Pinklon Thomas, losing in the eighth round in August 1982. He was stopped in the same round three months later by Greg Page in a USBA heavyweight title match. Four wins got him a shot at the vacant NABF championship against Tim Witherspoon. The bout took place on 23 September 1983. Witherspoon wasted no time in picking up the vacant belt, needing only two-minutes and 16 seconds of the very first round. He won another four fights, but dropped a ten round unanimous decision t...

Evander Holyfield Evander Holyfield sporting his 1984  Olympic Bronze Medal Born in Atmore, Alabama on 19th October 1962, Evander Holyfield's hometown became Atlanta, Georgia. Holyfield took up boxing and in 1984 took the National Golden Gloves light-heavyweight title. He also represented USA in the Los Angeles Olympic Games, where he picked up a bronze medal. Holyfield probably threw the punch of the entire tournament, catching New Zealand's Kevin Barry in the semifinal with a left hook. Barry stumbled to the canvas, regained his feet but was still on wobbly legs. The Yugoslavian referee deemed the punch a foul as Holyfield landed it when he called break, and disqualified the American. Holyfield claimed he never heard the command and the US team filed a complaint. They said the punch was thrown before the break call, deeming the punch legal, the noise level of the crowd so high that their man couldn't of heard the command and Barry was in the process of ...