Ex-heavyweight king Evander Holyfield to officially retire; Hall of Fame countdown begins | Boxing Experts Blog - Yahoo! Sports

Evander Holyfield (R) on his way to stopping Mike Tyson in 1996 (AP)Evander Holyfield has finally decided to give up the ghost of regaining the undisputed heavyweight title and, on his 50th birthday on Friday, will announce his retirement from boxing.

Holyfield told Sports Illustrated that he still believes he can beat heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, but said, "I can't make nobody fight."

Few could fight like Holyfield in his prime. He was a fierce competitor who, despite being naturally smaller than many of his opponents, rarely took a backward step. 

He retires with a 44-10-2 record, along with a no contest, but that mark is deceiving.

He was 8-7-1 with a no contest in his last 16 fights, all of which came when he was 37 or older and far past his prime.

In his prime, he was clearly one of the 10 greatest heavyweights ever and one of the most exciting big men to ever enter the ring. 


He's most known for his 1996 upset of Mike Tyson, but he also scored wins over elite fighters such as Riddick Bowe, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Ray Mercer, Michael Moorer and Michael Dokes.


Before he went to heavyweight, he was the best cruiserweight in the world. He won the cruiserweight belt in a sensational 15-round battle with Dwight Muhammad Qawi and went on to become the greatest cruiser ever.

It was as a heavyweight, though, where he made his name. He held the heavyweight title four times and was the linear champion twice.

He not only ducked none of them, he fought many of them multiple times.



10 greatest fights:



 
Evander Holyfield beats Dwight Muhammad Qawi (AP) 


Holyfield TKO10 Michael Dokes in a non-title heavyweight bout, March 11, 1989
 
 
Evander Holyfield KOs Buster Douglas (AP) 

Holyfield KO3 James "Buster" Douglas to win the undisputed heavyweight title, Oct. 25, 1990

Holyfield W12 George Foreman to retain the undisputed heavyweight title, April 19, 1991 

 
 Riddick Bowe holds his belt (AP) 
Riddick Bowe W12 Holyfield to win the undisputed heavyweight title, Nov. 13, 1992

Holyfield W12 Bowe to win the WBA & IBF heavyweight titles, Nov. 6, 1993

 
 Mike Tyson floored by Evander Holyfield (AP) 

Holyfield TKO11 Mike Tyson to win the WBA heavyweight title, Nov. 9, 1996 


Holyfield TKO8 Michael Moorer to retain the WBA heavyweight title and win the IBF belt, Nov. 8, 1997 
 
Holyfield battling Lennox Lewis (AP) 

Lennox Lewis W12 Holyfield to win the undisputed heavyweight title, Nov. 13, 1999

Evander Holyfield (L) battles Riddick Bowe in their epic first bout (AP)




 Source:

Ex-heavyweight king Evander Holyfield to officially retire; Hall of Fame countdown begins | Boxing Experts Blog - Yahoo! Sports