“Because They Heard…”: 9 Years After Retirement, Evander Holyfield Reveals Reason Everybody Thinks He Is 5X World Champion

Evander Holyfield, born on October 19, 1962, in Atmore, Alabama, achieved the remarkable feat of winning the heavyweight championship four times. This accomplishment surpasses the previous record held by Muhammad Ali, who secured the title three times. Measuring 6 feet 2 inches, Holyfield frequently encountered significantly larger opponents in the heavyweight division.

Even though he won the championship a record four times, some believe he is a five-time champion. But why? In a recent interview with DJ Vlad, he cleared the confusion for the hundredth time while also explaining why such a misunderstanding arose. Let us delve right into it.

Is Michael Buffer responsible for misinformation regarding Evander Holyfield?

Holyfield clarified that he is a four-time Heavyweight champion, countering the occasional misconception of being a five-time champion. He attributed this confusion to Michael Buffer, who, during his announcements, inaccurately included an additional victory. In an overlooked match with Russian champ Nikolai Valuev in 2008, Holyfield, despite being past his prime, performed well enough to win. The judges, however, awarded Valuev a majority decision in Switzerland, a decision criticized for its questionable scoring.

Despite Holyfield’s effective performance, Valuev seemingly did little, allowing Holyfield to land several blows during their match. As a result, several major media entities scored the bout heavily in Holyfield’s favor. They believed he should have been given 10 of the 12 rounds. Buffer was one of them. “Because they heard Michael Buffer. Michael buffer told everybody say Evander Holyfield is only five time coz he counted the thing when I beat the giant. He said this man won every round, how could they even,” recalled the former champion.

Holyfield emphasized that the reality is four championships, disputing the notion of being a five-time champion and pointing out the miscount in Buffer’s statement after beating a giant opponent. In his remarkable career, who do you think Holyfield counts as the hardest puncher? Hint: it is not Mike Tyson.

Who is the hardest puncher Evander Holyfield has encountered?

Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson had two boxing matches, with Holyfield winning both, one by disqualification due to Tyson biting his ear off. Despite facing renowned opponents like Tyson and Lennox Lewis, Holyfield revealed in an interview that the hardest punch he ever received was from George Foreman.

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In the interview, Holyfield recounted the powerful impact of Foreman’s looping right, a deceptive maneuver that caught him off guard. The punch, thrown wide and landing unexpectedly, resonated strongly with Holyfield, who described the experience of getting cracked. “I asked them, ‘What did he hit me with?’ I’m like, All I know, I got cracked,” remembered the Real Deal. Despite Holyfield’s victory over Foreman, the memory of that impactful punch highlighted the force and skill of Foreman.

Holyfield built a legacy like none other. Do you consider him a four-time or a five-time champion based on his fight with Valuev? Let us know in the comments below.

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