Quote

Madison Square Garden, November 1984. I don't recall taking too much fear into the ring. I knew I could fight. But I got a big shock. They put me in with this rough, tough veteran called Lionel Byarm. He tested me to the limit. But I fought my heart out and, in the end, I prevailed. The story of my life, in my very first fight.

Evander Holyfield

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Evander Holyfield
Age: 62
Born: 1962
Born: October 19
Actor
Autobiographer
Boxer
Professional Boxer
Atmore
Alabama
Evander The Real Deal Holyfield
Stories
Fight
Limit
Veteran
Firsts
Knew
Rough
Recall
First
Called
Shock
Recalls
Heart
Fighting
Rings
Square
Much
Story
Garden
Squares
Lionel
Life
Bigs
Limits
Tested
Prevailed
Fear
Tough
Ring
Madison
Ends
Taking
Fought
November

More quotes by Evander Holyfield

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My goal is to be the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Evander Holyfield
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Everyone has freedom to say whatever they want to say. I think it takes a stronger person to hold their tongue as opposed to speaking out.
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I'm just one woman away, my mother, from being the same as Mike Tyson. I would've ended up like him if my mama had not been so tough and strong. A lot of people, including Mike, don't know I came from the ghetto. They think I'm too nice and proper. But that's the way my mama raised me - to look people in the eye and respect them.
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I have to have an adjustment before I go into the ring. I do believe in chiropractic. I found that going to a chiropractor three times a week helps my performance. The majority of boxers go to get that edge.
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Odds are just the people opinion. Respect your own opinion.
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Sugar leaves you stranded I make sure I have the proper amount of protein before I work out.
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Pressure bursts pipes. I thank God for giving me peace of mind to overcome pressure. The difference between winning and losing is when pressure hits.
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He listens to his trainer real good. He just doesn't listen to me. I still can't get him to do nothing.
Evander Holyfield
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The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive your kids, either.
Evander Holyfield
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I lost my first fight at the Boys Club at 11 years old and quit the team. My mother told me I had to go back because she didn't raise no quitter. I lost a second fight and quit again and still my mother wouldn't let me. She made me go back and try again.
Evander Holyfield
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When you refuse to fight guys because you say you are better than them, that is not really being the best. If I could just fight certain fighters that fit my style, I would look great in all of them.
Evander Holyfield
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A champion shows who he is by what he does.
Evander Holyfield
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I do not lose I just do not get decisions sometimes. You lose when you quit. I have never quit. When it comes down to a decision, judges make a decision as to which fighter they want to win the fight. I have always been able to survive no matter whom they decide to give the fight to.
Evander Holyfield
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From what I hear is happening, young Indian boxers have started to do well on the world stage and started to gain the attention of the general audience.
Evander Holyfield
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I got three whippings a day from my mama.
Evander Holyfield
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A champion shows who he is by what he does when he's tested. When a person gets up and says 'I can still do it', he's a champion.
Evander Holyfield
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That's the biggest problem with boxing in the United States. They do not promote it like they used to, when it used to be Howard Cosell and they showed it on 'Wide World of Sports.' Everybody knew all the fighters. Everybody was looking forward to the year when the Olympics came on.
Evander Holyfield
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A boxing match is hard because boxing isn't set for you to do good. You have to force your will upon someone, but dancing you don't have to force your will. It should be a lot easier because if I make a mistake I don't get hit.
Evander Holyfield
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I beat Larry Holmes and George Foreman. I whupped Mike Tyson twice. I had my ear chewed off and spat on the ground in front of me. I've seen everything it is possible to see in boxing. I know this business better than anyone. So I live and die by my own decisions.
Evander Holyfield
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People who make the choice to study, work hard or do whatever they endeavor is to give it the max on themselves to reach to the top level. And you have the people who get envy and jealous, yet are not willing to put that work in, and they want to get the same praise.
Evander Holyfield