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Philippines, 18 Mar 2025 |
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A BOXING LEGEND IN SUZHOU By Rene Bonsubre, Jr. PhilBoxing.com Sun, 29 Nov 2015  SUZHOU,CHINA ? It has been four years since his last fight but Evander Holyfield continues to attract attention here in this 2,500 year old city. The former cruiserweight and four time heavyweight champion is in China as a special guest of the CBCA and the organizers for the double WBO regional title fight card held November 28 at the Suzhou Sports Center. Holyfield has been mobbed by fans and even boxing officials for photos every time he appears in public. It seemed like it was only yesterday that his legendary ring wars thrilled boxing fans all over the world. This writer had a chance to speak briefly with one of the fight game?s greatest legends after the boxing event and talk about his amazing career and the Bible verse embroidered on his trunks- Philippians 4:13 - that became his signature and a source of inspiration to his millions of fans. ?When I lost the first fight to Riddick Bowe, I did not want to come back into the ring again,? Holyfield said, ?But I saw my son, he was very sad about the loss, he asked me ?Daddy , why did you lose???I had to tell him, did you win the last time you played football. You can?t expect to win all the time. My mother did not want me to fight again. But I thought about my son, and I thought I don?t want him to remember me losing.? ?I needed something to push me. So I was reading the Bible, and I read Phil 4:13, which is ?I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me??I didn?t want to come back, but I felt that you got to have faith to be able to something that you don?t want to.? Holyfield continued, ?People were telling me, how can you beat him (Bowe), he?s younger than you, bigger than you, he already beat you.? But Holyfield would go on to beat Bowe in their second fight. He also talked about his thoughts on winning and losing and his other battles against the odds. ?People said early on that I was not big enough to rumble with the big boys, but I beat George Foreman. Even late in my career, I fought this seven foot guy (Nikolay) Valuev. I know I beat him. He got the decision but the big guys know I would be going for the body.? ?After I fought in the Olympics, they told me that I was going to be the next Ali. But I also thought that if I was going to be win the heavyweight title three times, that would mean I would have to lose..and I don?t want to lose.? ?But, when I lost my title to Lennox Lewis, and Lewis did not want to fight John Ruiz, I fought Ruiz, and I became the only four time heavyweight champion, Losing can be blessing and a motivation.? Holyfield visited the Philippines a couple of years ago for charity work. He was also recently involved in a charity boxing match with Mitt Romney. But it was talking about his celebrated fights that made his eyes light up. Was the first fight against Mike Tyson the high point in his career? ?The first Tyson fight was actually a low point in my career. Everyone thought I would lose, When I lost to Michael Moorer they said I had a heart ailment. I lost to Riddick Bowe again, I did not look good against Bobby Czyz. But I beat Tyson twice.? The verse Phil 4:13 was emblazoned on Holyfield?s trunks and robe for the Tyson fight. His TKO win became a source of motivation for fans as an example of perseverance against tall odds. ?When fans ask me for autographs, I always sign Phil. 4:13. I thought that maybe someday, they will look at it and decide to open the Bible.? He stated. He also has an interesting view on boxing records. ?Records are something you pass on so the next generation will strive to be better when they try to break that record.? He said that Manny Pacquiao?s eight titles will be surpassed someday; records are meant to be broken. Holyfield also talked about family values; his relationship with his mother and parents giving their children a good example that they can follow. Last Saturday, Holyfield spoke to a packed house inside the Suzhou Sports Center and had complimented them on the continuing improvement of boxing here in China. He graciously responded to the fans? requests. Holyfield retired with a record of 45-10-2, 29KO?s. He belongs to an era where heavyweights were still looked upon as the glamour division of boxing. Fans old enough to remember will always look at those years and even the Ali and Holmes years of the 70?s and 80?s with a sense of nostalgia and longing, wondering if we will be able to relive those years in our present day fighters. We can only hope. But for legends like Holyfield, we will always thank him for the memories. He was and still is the ?Real Deal?. Photo: Four time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield (L) being interviewed by Rene Bonsubre Jr. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..  |
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