Evander Holyfield, also known by the nickname ‘The Real Deal’, is a former American boxer. He was born on October 19, 1962, in Alabama, U.S. He was the only boxer in history to win the undisputed championship in two weight classes during the three-belt era. Evander held the title at cruiserweight in the late 1980s and heavyweight in the early 1990s. He even won the Undisputed Champion title in the heavyweight and cruiserweight weight classes.
Evander Holyfield’s net worth is $1 million. Here, we shall discuss his professional life.
Early Life
Holyfield was born on October 19, 1962, in Alabama. He was the youngest among his nine siblings. He was raised in the hostile environment of Atlanta, Georgia, in the Bowen Homes Housing Projects. He started taking an interest in boxing at the early age of seven and even won multiple tournaments. The first of his many won tournaments was the Boys Club Boxing. In the ring, Holyfield established himself by competing in the cruiserweight, heavyweight, and light-heavyweight divisions. At 13, he was known for his first Junior Olympics.
Furthermore, at age 15, he was awarded the title of Best Boxer and Southeastern Regional Champion. Holyfield considers himself a physical “late bloomer” because he was just 147 pounds and only 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) tall when he left Fulton High School in 1980.
Professional Career
In 1984, Holyfield made his professional boxing debut at the Summer Olympics. He acquired the nickname “The Real Deal” and advanced to the cruiserweight category the following year. Next year, he defeated Dwight Muhammad Qawi to win his first title.
Moreover, Holyfield defeated Buster Douglas in 1988 to earn his first victory as a heavyweight boxer. He lost to Riddick Bowe but won back his title the following year after a rematch.
Evander Holyfield has won against many of his notable opponents, including Larry Homes, Ray Mercer, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, Michael Dokes, Hasim Rehman, John Ruiz, and Michael Moorer.
He defeated the legendary boxer Mike Tyson in 1997. He was defeated in the WBC, IBF, and WBA titles against Lenox Lewis in 1999.
He retired at the age of 45 and ranked at the 77th position on the ring’s list of ‘100 Greatest Punchers All Time’. The International Boxing Hall of Fame accepted him as a member in 2017.
Financial Challenges
Holyfield faced numerous financial challenges throughout his career despite his success in the ring. He made several high-profile investments that didn’t pan out and faced many lawsuits and legal disputes.
Throughout his career, Holyfield made an estimated $230 million in prize money alone. He lost all that money when his 109-room Atlanta mansion was confiscated. The home sold for $7.5 million at a public auction after going into foreclosure. Sadly, Evander owed the bank more than twice that much for the mortgage on the house. He also owed the IRS several hundred thousand dollars in back taxes as of January 2013. The majority of Holyfield’s priceless possessions, including his championship rings, belts, 25 match robes and shorts, 20 pairs of combat gloves, and Olympic Bronze Medal, were auctioned to pay his debts.
Other Ventures
Despite these setbacks, Holyfield has managed to maintain a high net worth throughout his career. He has earned millions of dollars from his boxing career, as well as from endorsements and other business ventures.
Holyfield established the Real Deal Records that approved the one-time success group Exhale. Furthermore, he was well-known because he participated in numerous Diet Coke and Coca-Cola advertisements. He is one of the many famous personalities who are known for doing commercials for Zaxby’s restaurant chain. In addition, Holyfield used infomercials to launch his Real Deal Grill line of cooking supplies in 2007.
He was featured in Blood Savage, Necessary Roughness, and Summer of Sam. These films were also co-produced by him. In 1994, he appeared in a cameo on GUTS on Nickelodeon. Holyfield made an appearance on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2005.
In addition to his boxing career, Holyfield was involved in several charitable organizations over the years. He donated millions of dollars to causes such as fighting hunger and supporting children’s education.
Net Worth
Today, Holyfield’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million to $500 million, depending on the source. While his exact net worth may be difficult to determine, there’s no denying that Holyfield has had an incredibly successful career both in and out of the ring.
Conclusion
Overall, Evander Holyfield is an incredibly talented boxer with a long and successful career. Despite facing some financial challenges over the years, he has managed to maintain a high net worth and continues to be a respected figure in the boxing world.
