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Home , Brian Nielsen (boxer), Evander Holyfield, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe

SPORT 16 The Crest Edition PLAY THE FIELD THE TIMES OF INDIA DADDY OLD GLOVES At 48, five-time world champion is still hungry for more. With his signature gyms and boxing academies to open here soon, India too will have a taste of the man the world calls the Real Deal

ARGHYA GANGULY is that Mike actually bit me twice (once in each and his alone. continue to fight. But as you continue to fight, don’t you run the risk of TIMES NEWS NETWORK ear). After the first bite, the fight physician ruled that I Knowing the profession and the hardships associated with it, did you them seeing their father go out to a younger, fitter fighter? could continue. When Tyson bit me the second time in think twice before encouraging Elijah or any of your family members? That is incorrect. The reason I am a professional vander Holyfield is not simply a boxer the next round, we finished the round and retired to our I have encouraged all my children to be the very best boxer is because I love the sport. It has been my passion anymore. He belongs to the rare tribe of corners. The second bite and some unusual behaviour at whatever they choose to do. I am proud of all of my long before I had children. I am humbled by the athletes who have shown remarkable from Mike in his corner is what got him disqualified. children and support whatever dreams or aspirations recognition, admiration and support of my fans around resistance against the erosion of time. Over Did you think he was being sincere when he apologised later? they may have. I do strongly believe in education. Since I the world. There is not one fight that I have had in my the course of a forty-year long boxing career Yes. did not go to college myself, it’s my hope that all of my entire career of boxing that I cannot say I was in the best he has traversed from being a five-time Do you think the new crop of boxers are more equipped to handle children go further than I did in school. condition I could be at the time. When the day comes Eworld champ, having his ear bitten off, to current-day money and fame compared to your contemporaries like Tyson or You have stated that your children are among the reasons that you that I no longer feel I can achieve the conditioning evangelist whom people lend their ears to. Still, it is (who have been declared bankrupt)? needed to compete, I will stop fighting. I still have a few fighting that keeps him going. A month before meeting I certainly wish I handled my money better, but I can EVANDER HOLYFIELD more fights left in me. (and in March), the 48- only speak for myself. Whether a boxer or a professional In 1992, you had decided to quit after getting beaten by Riddick Nickname: Real Deal I Born: Oct 19, 1962, Atmore, Alabama year-old Holyfield, who will launch Holyfield Gyms across in sports, entertainment or some other industry, Bowe? What had you decided to do then after boxing? India next year, exchanges notes with TOI-Crest on that bankruptcies are going to continue to happen. It is true Career record: Holyfield won the bronze medal in the Light I would’ve continued, as I have throughout my bite and why he still wants to become world champion that bad things can happen to all people and education division at the 1984 Summer Olympics. boxing career to be aligned with print, and yet again, when putting his feet up and sipping a Scotch does not make anyone immune to bankruptcy. Not today, Pro: 43 wins, 10 losses, 2 draws, 28 KOs; Only five-time radio advertising and branding. I still have active would be more appropriate for a gent his age. Excerpts: and I would certainly guess it will continue to happen in heavy-weight boxing champion of the world advertising campaigns and associations with major the future. Claim to fame: Beating twice in the ’90s; notable corporations. The Holyfield Gyms are one example of me You’ve been boxing since the age of eight. How hard is it for a boxer to It’s often said that is a meat train anyway and that wins over , and Riddick Bowe being able to give back what I have learnt in fitness back suppress the aggression when you’re met with frustrating boxers are more often puppets in the hands of the promoters? to the world. circumstances outside the ring? That’s a strong allegation. There are certainly many How difficult is it for a fighter (who has a short shelf-life) to deal with Boxing, which is better known as the art of fighting excellent promoters in boxing. It’s unfortunate that most the generational shift, fighting boxers perhaps half your age? with your fists, really takes into account the skill of the people hear more about the select few who aren’t. I am a professional boxer, period. I would have to fighter based on their knowledge of physiology and the How did your generation and the subsequent one interpret correct you regarding the assumption that my boxing science behind that art of boxing, as well as a tremendous ’s fight for the blacks? career has had a short shelf-life. My last fight was less amount of grace and poise. Given this generally accepted Muhammad Ali was and is an inspiration for all than a year ago at 47 years old. I won and earned the definition, it’s not hard at all to identify with as well as people. The African-American community is a diverse heavyweight champion title for the fifth time in my separate the work I do in the boxing ring with the life I array of people, each with their own thoughts and beliefs. career, a career that has spanned over 40 years. To date, I live outside of the ring where it is appropriate. What I could never assume we all share the same opinion have not fought anyone half my age. motivates me is not an animalistic instinct. Boxing is about any one person or subject. I can tell you that for You work out in the gym to the sound of your favourite tunes. Each indeed a contact sport, just like football or hockey for me, Muhammad Ali has always been an inspiration for one must remind you of some milestone bouts. example. Boxing is what I am trained to do and how I the mere fact that he took a stand for his beliefs. He also I like all kinds of music. Many of the tunes I associate have made a living for most of my life, it is not what had the ability to deliver on whatever he claimed. with my fights with George Foreman, Riddick Bowe and dictates or defines me as a person outside of the ring. Whether or not I personally agreed with all the things he Mike Tyson are inspired by Gospel music with a little MC You had mentioned that in the ’90s you sought divine help only on the stands for is not nearly as important as the confidence he Hammer mixed in. day of a bout. Nowadays, it is before every training session. With instilled in me to stand up for what I believe. I will Have you seen any Indian boxers? Do you have any specific training advancing age, does an athlete lose faith in his own instincts and thus forever be grateful for his contributions to the sport of plans for them? seek more divine assistance? boxing and to the inspiration he has given me to be a Yes. I think a lot of Indian boxers are doing well on I seek the guidance and support of God each and better man. the world stage. I can’t give away my trade secrets here. every day. I call on Him for all things, not just things that Why does boxing currently seem at an all-time low in TRP ratings The proof will be in the quality fighters we develop over relate to boxing. I have done this for most of my life and compared to the highs of the past? time in India. And you will get to see some of that in the will continue to do so for the rest of it. If I ever had Here’s the only point I would like to make regarding this Holyfield Gyms and Boxing Academies. doubts or lost faith in my ability to fight, I would have question. Admittedly, boxing does not currently have the What is the focus of the Holyfield chain of lifestyle gyms in India? put down my gloves years ago. Today at the age of 48, I same draw it did in the mid-’90s, but, just like the stock Boxing teaches you things that anyone can use to be am still as physically fit as I was almost twenty years ago. market, everything has its cycle. a more successful person — discipline, hard work, How long did it take for you to forgive Mike Tyson for biting your ear? Can one reason be the lack of charismatic/controversial characters in setting and achieving goals. We are going to create great I forgave Mike immediately after it all happened. My the sport? gyms, boxing clubs and other exciting ways for the belief in God requires me to let things like that go and I am the only five-time heavyweight boxing people of India to get in shape, stay in shape and have fun move on. My faith in God gave me the ability to find champion of the world, but certainly there are other doing it. At this stage in my life, my focus is on giving sincere compassion in my heart for Mike. fighters that have come after me in various weight back and helping people all around the world however I Was it easy to forgive him since the bout went in your favour? classes that have made a name for themselves. can. Health and fitness is one of the greatest gifts you can I was dominating Mike in this fight. Just like I did the Is Elijah the only one in your family who is interested in taking up the BOXING DAY BLUES: Holyfield’s (top) ear is bitten off by help a person achieve. I’m very fortunate to have the first time we fought. Even though the fight ended in the profession of his dad? Mike Tyson during their June 28, 1997 fight in ; opportunity to give that gift to people in India, and I look third round, there was no question that I was leading in So far, yes. It certainly helps that he has been around Holyfield watches a boxing match during the Sydney forward to touching the people of India in a new way.  each round. What most people do not remember about many of the boxing greats. His decision to fight is his Olympics in 2000. PIX: GETTY IMAGES

I forgave Mike Tyson immediately after it all For me, Muhammad Ali has always been an happened. My faith in God gave me the ability to inspiration for he took a stand for his beliefs. He also c find sincere compassion in my heart for him had the ability to deliver on whatever he claimed d