Future Hall of Famer Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield is an old-school fighter who has gone new wave in terms training. The 48-year-old, ultra fit Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs) defends World Boxing Federation heavyweight title against challenger Sherman “Tank” Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs), headlining the January 22nd “Redemption In America: The Journey Begins Now” Pay-Per-View Event, live from America’s resort — The Greenbrier’s Colonial Hall — in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Holyfield has accomplished as much as nearly any prize fighter in history during his illustrious 26-year career, defeating a Who’s Who list of the heavyweights and cruiserweights such as world champions such as Mike Tyson (twice), George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer, James “Buster” Douglas, John Ruiz (twice), Hasim Rahman, Chris Byrd, Pinklon Thomas, Michael Dokes, Dwight Muhammad Qawi (twice), and Carlos De Leon. Holyfield’s last fight was a win by eighth-round technical knockout against Frans Botha (47-4-3) last April for the vacant World Boxing Federation crown.
Competitive, entertaining undercard fights will set the stage for the main event showcasing Holyfield on his journey to become the first heavyweight champion to regain the coveted world title four different times. If today’s 50 is yesterday’s 40, Evander still has a lot left in tank, largely because of the foundation for success and longevity he established many, many years ago.
“With me,” he explained, “I’ve always had a plan to live a long time. I plan to be heavyweight champion again, too. To live a long life I have had to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Every kid eats what he wants. Once I made the Olympic Team I developed a habit of eating right and there was no sense changing.
“I’ve been an athlete since I was eight and started trying to be successful back then. At some point I reached my goal and have since maintained my conditioning. My training and conditioning has evolved from the start. I go back to the past for some things because there are no reasons to change from a good base foundation. But if something new has proven to work, I do that, too. There’s no sense riding a horse when you have a car. For weight training today there are so many different people, different ways and different equipment. It’s easier using machines (as opposed to free weights) because you don’t need a spotter. I have different machines at home and they’re much safer with kids around.”
Holyfield’s opponent, Williams, is a rugged, durable veteran who has been stopped only once (by Robert Davis in 1999) in 47 pro fights. He has beaten former world champion Alfred “Ice” Cole, fought a draw with multiple world title challenger Jameel McCline, and took former world heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev the full distance in their 2005 fight.
“Fighters take a chance every time they get into the ring,” Holyfield concluded. “I’m not upset with Williams. He’s just taking a chance to make it by fighting me. At 48, I’m going to prove to him that I can still go.”
