by Ronisha Johnson

Created on: June 16, 2009

Born October 19, 1962, Evander Holyfield is the youngest of nine children. Originally from Atmore, Alabama his family moved to Atlanta a few years after his birth. He aspired to play football for the Atlanta Falcons and was apart of the Warren Memorial Boy's Club. He was an offensive fullback and middle linebacker on defense of the sixty-five pound team. His curiosity of the restricted section of the Club led Holyfield to his athletic destiny of being a boxer.

Holyfield would ask Coach Carter Morgan on a daily basis if he could join the boxing team. After numerous requests Coach Morgan finally gave in and allowed Holyfield to join the team. He saw a fire inside Holyfield and told him that if he stuck with boxing that one day he would become Heavyweight Champion of the World. With Coach Morgan guiding him, Holyfield was undefeated between the ages of eight and eleven and throughout his amateur years. He compiled an extraordinary boxing record of 169 wins to 11 loses.

Juggling two sports, Holyfield landed a spot on the Fulton High's football team during try-outs. Unfortunately, he spent more time on the bench than on the field. This discouraged young Holyfield and he quit the team. His mother encouraged him to return to the team. His football coach put him in the game the last game of the season. His coach wasn't disappointed as Holyfield impressed him and the crowd with his blocking skill and determination. Holyfield then turned his full attention to boxing.

Holyfield represented the United States in the Pan-American Games in Venezuela in 1983. There he won a silver medal. He returned the Pan Am Games in 1984 and won the National Golden Gloves Championship. All of his wins were by knock out. He also earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. At the 1984 Los Angeles games, Holyfield was just short of winning the Light-Heavyweight Championship. He instead won a bronze medal after he knocked out Kevin Barry of New Zealand with seconds left in the second round. The referee claimed that Holyfield hit Barry after the break and disqualified him.

Shortly after the Olympics, Holyfield made his professional debut and defeated Lionel Byrarm. As Junior Heavyweight Division he won four bouts. He then moved up to Cruiserweight. In 1986 he won his first world title against the WBA's world Cruiserweight Champion, Dwight Qwai. Holyfield is still the only undefeated, undisputed Cruiserweight Champion. Holyfield became the Heavyweight Champion of the World on October 25, 1990

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