THE former heavyweight world champion (his cruiserweight days were pre-1990) and one of the game’s great warriors, Holyfield shared a thrilling trilogy with Riddick Bowe and as an underdog he twice scalped Mike Tyson, once by stoppage, and then when a frustrated Tyson snapped and bit him. Holyfield harmed his reputation by fighting on too long, but so nearly capped his career with an unlikely title win over Nikolay Valuev in 2008 when he lost narrowly to the giant Russian on the cards. By then, though, Holyfield was well beyond an amazing prime that had seen him avenge a defeat to Michael Moorer and dish out losses to Buster Douglas, Ray Mercer and veterans Larry Holmes and George Foreman. Remember Holyfield for the ‘90s, not the naughties.
Best 25 fighters of the last 25 years: Number Ten
Tris Dixon lists the best 25 boxers from the past quarter of a century
