Evander Holyfield realised he wasn’t the boxer he once was when he sparred a 19-year-old Andy Ruiz Jr.
The former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion officially hung up his gloves in 2011 at the age of 51 – three years after beating Denmark’s Brian Nielsen.
GETTY/YouTube -12thRoundBoxingHolyfield’s spar with Ruiz Jr was an eye-opening experience[/caption]
He had planned to fight again, but a spar with Ruiz Jr, who shocked the world in 2019 by knocking out Anthony Joshua, served as a brutal reminder that Father Time is undefeated.
“When I sparred that guy Ruiz, and when he was 19-years-old, he was able to tag me, I knew then,” he told Pro Boxing Fans of the moment he realised he needed to retire.
“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.”
Holyfield stuck true to his word for seven years before returning to the ring for an exhibition bout with former UFC light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort.
‘The Real Deal’ was 58-years-old when he stepped in to replace Oscar De La Hoya in Hollywood, Florida.
Unlike Holyfield, Belfort was still actively competing in combat sports and was much closer to his prime at 44.
Holyfield looked like a shadow of his former self from the off, slipping early and nearly falling out of the ring.
The boxing legend was rocked by the first meaningful shot that landed and decked by a follow-up left hand inside the opening round.
Holyfield managed to climb back to his feet, but when he did, Belfort unloaded a spiteful flurry.
The referee then stepped in and made the compassionate decision to wave off the fight before Holyfield got seriously hurt at one minute and 49 seconds of the first round.
Holyfield has since teased the idea of having a trilogy bout with Mike Tyson, although thankfully, nothing has come of it.
Meanwhile, KSI’s manager, Mams Taylor, also revealed to talkSPORT.com that Holyfield contacted Misfits Boxing last year about fighting his client.
“I know Holyfield contacted us about fighting KSI,” said Taylor.
“Again, we wouldn’t do that. It needs to be two evenly matched fighters at an even age.
“If it was Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield for all the money in the world, we wouldn’t do that.
“I think it’s ironic because the cornerstone of Misfits Boxing is on a higher moral ground than some parts of traditional boxing.
“We take care of the fighters, we make sure that the testing is good and that’s why fighters pop.
“We do it and we do far more extensive medical testing before they are allowed to fight.
“We fight people matched together at similar levels, that is our ethos and I think there is something for everyone.
“But we have a moral outline and we will try to stick to that regardless of the pay cheque that comes our way.”
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