Evander Holyfield fought a who’s who of top cruiserweights and heavyweights during his time inside the ropes.
‘The Real Deal’ was the first, and until recently the only, man to become undisputed at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
On his journey in the top division, he had wins over the likes of George Foreman, Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson, though would controversially draw and lose to Lennox Lewis.
Holyfield officially retired in 2014, however he had already been inactive for three years. With 57 fights under his belt, most of which came at a high level, he had plenty to choose from when asked by the Ring Magazine to name his best opponent. Ultimately, he went for Riddick Bowe.
“I would say Bowe [was the best]. I had three fights with Bowe. He was very competitive, he was always going to be in shape when he fought me.”
The rivalry between Holyfield and Bowe was one of the defining narratives of heavyweight boxing in the 1990s. Holyfield faced the younger, physically imposing Bowe – a former sparring partner and Olympic silver medalist – first in November 1992. Bowe earned a unanimous decision after a fight considered an instant classic.
The rematch a year later was equally dramatic, with Holyfield reclaiming his titles via a majority decision in a bout famously interrupted by the ‘Fan Man’ descending into the ring. Their third and final fight in November 1995 saw Bowe emerge victorious with an eighth-round TKO, marking a definitive end to their trilogy.
Bowe was regarded by many close to him as having extreme potential that would ultimately be wasted by a lesser drive. He famously skipped a fight with Lennox Lewis which many feel would have been another classic.
