It’s ‘The Real Deal’: Boxing shrine to induct Evander Holyfield
Whip them he did in an impressive boxing career that spanned more than three decades — 160 wins as an amateur, 44 more as a pro — and included undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight titles, not to mention oh-so-memorable fights against Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe.
Others inducted June 11 in Canastota, N.Y.: three-division champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico; super flyweight champ Johnny Tapia; Australian trainer Johnny Lewis; judge Jerry Roth; journalist-broadcaster Steve Farhood; broadcaster Barry Tompkins; and posthumous honorees Eddie Booker and ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Sr.
After winning Olympic bronze in 1984, Holyfield turned pro and in only his 12th fight, defeated Dwight Qawi for the WBA cruiserweight title.
Holyfield became unified champion with knockout wins over IBF champion Rickey Parkey and WBC champion Carlos DeLeon.
Holyfield then moved up to the heavyweight division and took the WBC-WBA-IBF titles in 1990 with a third-round knockout of Buster Douglas and made successful defenses against George Foreman, Bert Cooper and Larry Holmes.
Bowe won the undisputed heavyweight championship on points from Holyfield in 1992 in a fight that stamped Holyfield as a competitor like few others.
Holyfield beat Bowe the next year on points to earn the IBF and WBA titles.
Holyfield upset Tyson for the WBA title in 1996 and won the rematch the next year in what long will be remembered as the “Bite Fight.”