Holyfield's achievements in the ring are remarkable. He's one of only two boxers to hold undisputed titles in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. The other is Oleksandr Usyk, who achieved this feat in May 2023.
During his career, Holyfield faced many formidable opponents. He fought Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, James Toney, and Hasim Rahman. Yet, when asked about his hardest fight overall, Holyfield didn't hesitate to name Qawi.
In the interview, Holyfield explained his choice:
"For heavyweight, I would say Riddick Bowe, but as a fighter overall Dwight Muhammad Qawi. Reason why it was so tough is I'd never been 15 rounds, only been eight, and I knew what he could do. I'd seen that he was a mean guy, he don't let up on nobody. His size, his stature, 5"7, 5"8, his arm was longer than my arm reach so he's a guy that's shorter than me with arms longer than mine and he's a strong guy, good fighter. He was older, so he was smarter too, so I had a lot to overcome."
Holyfield's first fight with Qawi in 1986 was for the IBF Cruiserweight title. It was a grueling battle that went the full 15 rounds. Holyfield won by split decision, but the fight left a lasting impression on him.
The inexperienced Holyfield had to contend with Qawi's relentless fighting style, unusual physical attributes, and greater experience. Qawi, a former world champion at light-heavyweight and cruiserweight, was known for his tenacity and skill.
Holyfield and Qawi met again in 1987. This time, Holyfield won more decisively, stopping Qawi in the fourth round. But it's clear that first encounter remained etched in Holyfield's memory as his toughest test.
Throughout his career, Holyfield was involved in many other memorable fights. He faced Mike Tyson twice, winning both encounters - the first by knockout and the second by disqualification when Tyson infamously bit Holyfield's ear. He also had two closely contested bouts with Lennox Lewis in 1999, the first ending in a draw and the second in a points loss for Holyfield.
Despite these high-profile heavyweight clashes, it's the early cruiserweight battle with Qawi that Holyfield rates as his hardest. His choice underscores the idea that a fighter's toughest test doesn't always come in their most famous or lucrative bouts. Sometimes, it's the fights that push them to their limits early in their careers that leave the most lasting impact.