Holyfield's boxing journey is nothing short of remarkable. He became the first man to win undisputed championships in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. These incredible achievements were only matched last year by Oleksandr Usyk. Throughout his career, Holyfield amassed an impressive record of 44 wins, 10 losses, 2 draws, and 1 no contest, facing off against some of boxing's biggest names like Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, and George Foreman.
Despite his successes, Holyfield admitted that two fights pushed him to the brink of quitting. The first was his third bout with Riddick Bowe. Holyfield and Bowe had a fierce rivalry, facing each other three times, with Holyfield winning once and losing twice. The other fight that tested Holyfield's resolve was his initial encounter with Lennox Lewis, which ended in a controversial draw.
In an exclusive interview with Boxing News, Holyfield revealed what kept him going during these tough times:
"If it wasn't for my son I would have quit. In those situations you don't just think about yourself. All things go through your mind. I didn't want anyone telling my son, 'You're going to be like your dad and when the pressure builds up, you'll just walk out.'
I didn't want my son to be criticised for something I had done. That is what made me take the beating, because if it wasn't for my children, I would have walked out of there."
Holyfield's words show that his children, especially his son, were his main motivation to keep fighting. He wanted to set a good example of perseverance and didn't want his actions to reflect poorly on his kids.
The boxer's admission gives us a glimpse into the mental and emotional challenges fighters face. Even champions like Holyfield, known for their toughness in the ring, grapple with thoughts of giving up. His story reminds us that sometimes, the biggest fights happen outside the ring, where personal motivations and family considerations play a crucial role in an athlete's career decisions.