Evander Holyfield, the boxing legend who conquered both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, has revealed that sparring with a young Andy Ruiz Jr. convinced him it was time to hang up his gloves.
Holyfield's career was nothing short of spectacular. In April 1988, he became the first undisputed cruiserweight champion by defeating Carlos De Leon and claiming the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles. He didn't stop there. In 1990, Holyfield knocked out Buster Douglas in the third round to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Throughout his career, Holyfield faced and beat some of the biggest names in boxing. He traded wins with Riddick Bowe, famously defeated Mike Tyson, and outboxed Larry Holmes. His first loss came at the end of 1992 to Bowe, but Holyfield bounced back and won their rematch just a year later.
As Holyfield prepared for his final fight against Brian Nielsen in 2011, he sparred with a 19-year-old Andy Ruiz Jr. The experience left a lasting impression on the veteran fighter. In an interview with Pro Boxing Fans, Holyfield admitted:
"When I sparred that guy Ruiz and when he was 19 years old he was able to tag me, I knew then [it was over]. I don't pass my age range where it no longer makes sense to get hit like that by somebody you think you should be able to beat, because experience and all this, but he had speed and I was losing speed."
The young Ruiz's aggression and speed caught Holyfield off guard. In another interview, Holyfield shared:
"When we were sparring, every day he did the same thing … He was aggressive then. It kind of embarrassed me a little bit. I thought, 'I'm a champ and you chasing me like this?'"
These sparring sessions made Holyfield realize it was time to step away from the sport. He retired in 2011 after beating Brian Nielsen in his final bout.
Ruiz Jr. went on to make his own mark in boxing history. In June 2019, he stunned the world by defeating Anthony Joshua to become the unified WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight champion. However, his reign was short-lived as Joshua reclaimed the titles in their rematch six months later.
Holyfield's story shows how even the greatest champions recognize when it's time to step aside. His encounter with a young, hungry Ruiz Jr. served as a clear sign that a new generation of boxers was ready to take center stage.
