⁠Our Reporter⁠ ⁠October 19, 2012⁠ ⁠1 Comment »⁠



‘Real Deal’ retires in penury today @ 50

As if pulling a blanket over his head to hide from a world of troubles, Evander Holyfield will finally retire from boxing today he marks his 50th birthday. Be that as it may, Holyfield, one of the ring’s most heroic warriors, has been defeated, not by one of his catalogue of formidable opponents, but by the wounds of self-inflicted poverty.

 

From ‘Real Deal’ to ‘Meals on Wheels’

A fighting man, who battled his way out of the ghetto to a $350million fortune, will wake up this poignant morning in a grim apartment in downtown Atlanta. This is the deepest cut of all those sustained by so many fighting men who have squandered fortunes. Mike Tyson only blew $250million. But Holyfield seems more afflicted than most by the punishment inflicted by so many sledge-hammer blows to the head. Yet, even though his speech became increasingly slurred, as he fought on to an age when the majority of Americans are applying for their bus pass, he had still been hoping for one last world title shot, one last big payday to keep the wolf from the door a little longer.

Holyfield is not just calling it a day, but waiting for a phone call, which will not come. His potentially suicidal campaign for a farewell fling against Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko has fallen on ears that are more kind than unreceptive.

“I believe I can beat either of them, but I don’t have time now to fight my way back up the rankings and become the number one contender. There’s no point badgering them any longer. If I don’t get the call (today), I quit,” Holyfield said.

 

Forget the phone, it’ll not ring

Bernd Bonte, manager of the Klitschkos, said: “Neither of the brothers will fight Evander. Both of them would destroy him at his age and they respect him far too much to do that. He is one of their idols and that means more than however, much money the fight might make.”

The esteem, in which Holyfield is held by the Klitschkos in common with the entire fraternity of boxing, is hallmarked by the horde of memorabilia, which he must surrender to auction next month. As the only four-time winner of the world heavyweight title, Holyfield surpasses ‘The Greatest’ himself, Muhammad Ali.

That collection of WBC, WBA, IBF and Ring belts, are to go under the hammer in Los Angeles, along with the wardrobe-full of gloves, shorts and robes worn in all the most significant fights in the career of one of the greatest boxers of all time. Those treasures drip with the sweat of his epic trilogy with Riddick Bowe, the two controversial battles with Lennox Lewis and along with his blood from that infamous biting of his ear, the sensational victories over Tyson.

Although here is no telling how long his memory of the glory nights will remain sharp, the item from which he will part most reluctantly is the classic red Chevrolet manufactured in 1962, the year of his birth. It will feel as if his life has turned its full circle. Yet, even if the fire sale raises its projected $5million, it will cover only half his $10million bankruptcy.

 

What really happened?

Some of the answers are as old as the hardest game itself. As the money poured in, so Holyfield took to gambling much of it away in the casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. As all the pretty women flocked around, so he fathered 11 children with five of them, as well as marrying and expensively divorcing three times.

As he took gratification from rising to fame through the old prejudices of America’s Deep South, so he flaunted his riches by buying Atlanta’s answer to Buckingham Palace. The most frequently mentioned statistics of that estate are the 109 rooms and 17 bathrooms. He took most pride from having not one, but two marble staircases sweeping through each end of the mansion. There were also houses in the grounds for his ex-wives and some of his children. This was a monument to extravagance born of his pride at overcoming his humble beginnings, but ultimately, beyond his means to sustain.

In echoing contrast to that call which will never come, the phone rang frequently there to be answered by a servant saying: “The Holyfield residence.”

 

But he remains an all-time great

Holyfield’s residence now is a small apartment in one of the less salubrious parts of his home city. The stately home was repossessed when he fell $14million behind on the mortgage repayments. Now, one of his daughters has won an order for immediate payment of $500,000 in maintenance arrears. Since he has no prospect of paying that or the $3,000 alimony due every month, he faces being held in contempt of court shortly.

However, what they cannot take from him is a phenomenal career. A Golden Gloves amateur title and Olympic bronze were followed by a reign as undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world. After winning the heavyweight crown by defeating James Buster Douglas, who had shocked Tyson and the world in the greatest of all upsets, he went on to fight all the best of the big time. He alternated between dominating the division and coming back from setbacks, including suspension with a suspected heart defect to keep reclaiming the title.

He would have been a five-time champion had the giant, Nikolai Valuev, not robbed him of a decision in February 2010 at the age of 47. He has the satisfaction of bowing out as a winner, having defeated Danish veteran Brian Neilsen in what was to be his last fight.

Win or lose, the way Holyfield always went to war in the ring was thrilling and unforgettable. Some may withhold sympathy, given the former scale of his wealth. Yet, while his excesses wee a folly, the sadness is profound.

Tyson, who is finding ways to rebuild his life, is offering assistance and advice to the man whose lavish generosity has extended to forgiving Iron Mike for chewing off his ear. Famously, a born-again Christian, Holyfield said: “I still have hope.”

He needs help, hopefully, from all the people whose lives he has enriched with his courage.


http://www.iol.co.za/sport/boxing/holyfield-turns-50-retires-broke-1.1404011#.UIUm9K4XLeg

i wonder why some sportsmen become poor after retirement,dont they employ financial advisers when the bucks were rolling in?

You wanna feel sorry for these guys but its hard knowing they blew through money a lot of people would never come across in their lifetime. Goodluck to him though! I was a fan

I-YuckMouf-I:
If you have kids by a Million Different Women in America, with the way the court systems are set up, of course you are going to be broke!

Hell T.O was paying his Baby Mothers 20 Grand and 30 Grand a Month a piece, and Football Players do not even have guaranteed contracts!

That's fuccked up.

And so is the Title of this Thread.

Show some Respect! Hahaha

this brings me to a particular aspect of the american society and legal system,why does the us legal system favours women in divorce suits more than men even if the woman is guilty

nawa o, hollyfield ti lana niyen...

NAWA OO

onatisi:
this brings me to a particular aspect of the american society and legal system,why does the us legal system favours women in divorce suits more than men even if the woman is guilty

cuz THE MAN sees men as a threat, especially men of color. so they give all the power to the women to obliterate the men. in the ghettos the only condition under which you will get money for section 8 is if you have no man in the house and they come and inspect at all hours of the day and night checking every wardrobe and cupboard for hiding men. if they see a man ? they cut you off

He could have at least signed a prenuptial agreement with the women he got married to, at least in that way he would not be paying out colossal amounts in monthly maintenance. A fool and his money are quickly separated though.

aruzuoke: 
Some of the answers are as old as the hardest game itself. As the money poured in, so Holyfield took to gambling much of it away in the casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. As all the pretty women flocked around, so he fathered 11 children with five of them, as well as marrying and expensively divorcing three times.

As he took gratification from rising to fame through the old prejudices of America’s Deep South, so he flaunted his riches by buying Atlanta’s answer to Buckingham Palace. The most frequently mentioned statistics of that estate are the 109 rooms and 17 bathrooms. He took most pride from having not one, but two marble staircases sweeping through each end of the mansion. There were also houses in the grounds for his ex-wives and some of his children. This was a monument to extravagance born of his pride at overcoming his humble beginnings, but ultimately, beyond his means to sustain.

In echoing contrast to that call which will never come, the phone rang frequently there to be answered by a servant saying: “The Holyfield residence.”

Gosh, Up till this moment I find it hard to believe he actually wasted his fortune this way. Quite a pity.

Perhaps, a kind soul will be kind enough to launch a fundraiser for the fellow?

however holyfield is more fortunate than 99 percent of america. he has a brand. his name is a brand. all he needs is a PR agent who will get him shows like celebrity big brother etc etc. he can easily become a millionaire again if he wants. its up to him.

Sad.

It's very sad how the American system rips a man off of his hard earned money, it does serve as a warning to philandering men that there are repercussions, but still....it's just sad to hear of a man who used to live in affluence, suddenly become bankrupt and more or less poor, 90% of the time, child support fees and the likes are what drains a man's account, give em a break a little.

Black men are the biggest victims cos after every thing, they still somehow, have failed to learn the discipline of self-control, shove your snake in your pants and stop looking for holes to poke em in, they just never get it.

Does anyone know how much $350million is in Naira?

If he had succeeded in saving even 1% of that money and relocating to Naija, his life would be a whole lot different.

Typical black american ...NEXT!

That's why most men in american kill their wife...how will u feel after working ur whole life..for a common woman to divorce u and get half of ur wealth plus houses, cars..dats rubbish..I remember when billonaira dehinde fernades wife won try dat rubbish.he remind d court dey never marry in uk but in nigeria..dats what save him...as evil as a woman..dey can make u regret ur life in one hr

Mr.chippychappy:
Typical black american ...NEXT!

Oh boy you can say that again. I bet 85% of that money went into fried chicken, malt liquor, kool aid, clubbing "balling" and don't forget. . . The almighty Latinas and "PAWGS"! Black Americans are a waste of space.

And some actually brought him to Nigeria to encourage the youth, such "role model".

Tot d big dude was in Nigeria some months back to trace his ancestral roots and personal bizness known to him, well, I would advise he comes to a bucolic area in Ifo (ogun state) , and start all over again. Pple no go too recognize am for there.

The tyson advising evander got me LOL, wetin dem wan dey gist? Hw dem get money before? Too bad for him though. Wish him well though

that is why most american celebrity men,,, dont want to get married, but having babies by their girlfriends,,like diddy, he has children, but still not married..

See money 350million dollars me get am me come poor again impossible,

What a journey from Grass to Grace and then fom Grace to Grass all borne out of indiscipline. Habits like gambling, womanising and show-off killed this man.

Every demon of gambling, womanising and show-off DIE, DIE, DIE

No hard feelings, still, lessons will not be learnt.

this reminds me of oj simpson,he couldnt allow his wife take half his money to another man

That's why you should use a condom while fvcking in the US. It isn't negotiable.

Wow that is sad

350m? Even Obama is not worth that and someone blew that one women and booze?

We need to realise all these guys no go school...and the hype wey all dem fake friends and managers dey give them dey always enter dem heads.....imagine....Mike Tyson, from $250m...now worth only $1m....tx to his one man show and few movie roles....these guys spend money like water...so, we shouldnt feel sorry for them jare....remember they like to make it rain in the clubs and strip joints...na the result be this...plus enough baby-mamas....lol

HQ:

Gosh, Up till this moment I find it hard to believe he actually wasted his fortune this way. Quite a pity.

Perhaps, a kind soul will be kind enough to launch a fundraiser for the fellow?

fundraiser for what purpose?did they help me squander his wealth
he was old enuff to have learnt about prudent management and if he is dumb enuff to blow it on gambling,well,na him fault be dat

This is what happen when one lack economic sense.