Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr and James Toney are all down in the history books as being some of the best to have ever laced up the gloves.
All three of the retired Americans campaigned in the heavyweight division at one stage in their respective professional careers, although Holyfield is unquestionably the most successful out of the trio amongst the big men.
‘The Real Deal’ become the first fighter in the history of boxing to capture the undisputed world championship at both cruiserweight and heavyweight, a record that was not broken until last year.
Jones and Toney won a version of the world heavyweight championship, although the latter was stripped of his crown after he failed a doping test in the immediate aftermath.
The man that was beaten by Toney was former two-time WBA world heavyweight champion John Ruiz, who also shared the ring with Holyfield and Jones throughout his tenure, beaten by both men over the distance.
In a feature of ‘Best I Faced’ with The Ring Magazine, Ruiz didn’t hesitate to reveal Holyfield as the best fighter he ever faced, claiming his former rival had ‘everything’.
“He had the big name and always went to war. He brought everything but the kitchen sink into the ring to use. He knew how to win and did everything to win.”
‘The Real Deal’ also remains the only fighter to have won the world heavyweight championship on four separate occasions, an outstanding record that is yet to be broken.
He boasts victories over a number of legendary heavyweights, including the likes of Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, Larry Holmes and George Foreman amongst many others.
