Evander Holyfield Goes Back to His Roots in Atlanta in ‘Rocky’ Style

Evander Holyfield never forgot his mother’s words: “Quit because things don’t go your way and you won’t reach your goal. So don’t quit,” he never did. Her timeless wisdom eventually took him to the heights of boxing. He has come far away from his humble beginnings. But ‘The Real Deal’ never forgot where it all began.

In a storied career that includes both amateur and professional journeys, Holyfield never settled for anything less than the best. The only boxer who became a four-time champion in the heavyweight division and won an undisputed title in two divisions still remains active in the sport. Under his guidance, Zhilei Zhang has been making waves and now stands proud as WBO’s interim title holder. Early today, fans and followers had a look at the place from which the Evander Holyfield phenomenon began. On his part, the boxing great showed why he still remains so razor-sharp.

Grounded in Legacy: Evander Holyfield

Through his Instagram handle, ‘The Real Deal’ shared how he stopped by his first residence in Atlanta. He wrote, “Where it all started. Today I visited my first home in #Atlanta. A lot of memories in this house. Stay tune! #Retrospective of a True Champion!” It’s easy to see how old the house must have been. It appears to have been refurbished. In beautiful green and yellow, it lies behind a brick-layered pavement.

Undoubtedly, the residence must have charmed the teeming number of fans. But what must have mesmerized them could be the ease with which the boxing legend broke into shadow boxing. With celebrated composer, keyboardist, and music arranger Vince DiCola‘s War/Fanfare from the ‘Rocky IV’ running in the background, Evander Holyfield started with the most basic: one-two, one-two, and hook.

It was everything fans could have dreamed of and more! One of the fans best described it: “The very reason you became so great champ! You never forgot your roots.”

Evander Holyfield was born in Atmore, Alabama, on October 19, 1962. The youngest of nine siblings, he was fairly young when his family moved to Georgia’s capital. Theirs was a family of humble means, a single-parent household. His mother took charge of everything.

Speaking about her during an interview with the BBC, he said, “She had sixth-grade education, but that was good enough for me. I didn’t have a father, but I had the right momma. She could have quit at any time, but she was the real ‘Real Deal’. She used to say, ‘Son, don’t be a coward; a coward dies a thousand times, but a man dies once.”

Dazzling Trajectory: A Snapshot of a Glittering Career

Towards the end of 1984, after winning a light heavyweight bronze at the Los Angeles Olympics, Evander Holyfield became a professional boxer. Two years later, a split decision victory over Dwight Muhammad Qawi fetched him his first world title, the WBA cruiserweight. By 1988, he had become the undisputed champion of the division and subsequently moved to the heavyweight division, where he won and lost the world title four times. It included the undisputed championship as well.

Given the era that he was in, fans had the privilege of watching him face some of the biggest names, such as Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer, Lennox Lewis, and John Ruiz. Not for once did he wince and back off from any of the square-ups. As most enthusiasts would concur, this is the unmistakable signature of a bona fide champion.

Read More: “We Still Miss You in Boxing”: Evander Holyfield’s Message of Gratitude to Fans for Birthday Wishes Leaves Them Nostalgic

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