Holyfield's career is packed with achievements. He became the undisputed champion at cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweight, where he again claimed all the belts. He faced a who's who of boxing greats including Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Riddick Bowe, Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, and James Toney.
But it was a sparring session with Andy Ruiz that left Holyfield wary. In a recent interview with The Fight Guys, Holyfield opened up about this unexpected experience.
"I sparred with Andy Ruiz and he is quick. Amazing quick. He's the only person I ever said 'ah shoot. I don't want to fight him.' I was in my 40s but it was amazing. Usually I can look at your body and tell what you can do, but with his build he is so quick."
Holyfield, who was in his 40s at the time, found himself outmatched by Ruiz's speed and skill throughout their sparring sessions.
"I sparred with him and he got the best of me all camp. He was the first person I ever fought that made me make my mind up real quick that if I'll get hit like this and I can't stop this guy from hitting me, I know he's a good fighter."
Ruiz later proved Holyfield's assessment correct when he shocked the boxing world in June 2019. He stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Jarrell Miller and stunned Anthony Joshua to win the WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles.
Ruiz's career has had its ups and downs since then. He lost the titles back to Joshua in an immediate rematch and recently fought to a majority decision draw with Jarrell Miller.
Holyfield's revelation shows that even the most fearless fighters can be caught off guard. It also highlights the unpredictable nature of boxing, where looks can be deceiving and skill can come in unexpected packages.