ATLANTIC, NJ (IB - December 12, 2002) – Its approximately 48 hours before Evander “The
Real Deal” Holyfield (38-5-2, 25 KOs) will take on Chris “Rapid
Fire” Byrd (35-2, 20 KOs) for the vacant IBF Heavyweight Championship of the
World. Most Heavyweights will only dream of being able to capture a piece of the
Heavyweight crown once. Whereas, Evander will be making an attempt to obtain the
Heavyweight crown for an unprecedented 5th time.So I attended Holyfield’s Thursday night work out to get a first-hand look at this 40-year-old warrior. Evander tipped the scale earlier today at 220lbs while Byrd weighed in at 214lbs. Although this is the heaviest that Holyfield has ever weighed in, it is apparent, as usual, this Legendary Champion is in peak fitness and is ready to do battle. After the workout, Evander was gracious enough to sit down and grant Insideboxing this exclusive interview.
Ron: Its 48 hours before fight time with Byrd, tell us what is going through your mind Evander?
Evander: “The main thing is staying focused and not get too far ahead. Just
taking it one day at a time.”Ron: You know Chris Byrd is very elusive and has a pecking style. What is the key to solve this guy?
Evander: “The key to anything is patience. I have to not get too excited and not let him get me off my game plan. I just got to out score him.”
Ron: Evander, I have been following your career for a long time and this will mark the 1st time I recall you outweighing your opponent as a Heavyweight.
Evander: Chuckles, “Yes, about six pounds.”
Ron: I just saw your workout and it looks like you’re in great shape. Are you ready to go?
Evander: “Yes I am shape and I am ready to go.”
Ron: The undisputed Heavyweight Championship is your goal, Chris Byrd is standing in your way, what is “Real Deal” going to do to move him out of the way?
Evander: “Well you know, I have to out think him. Chris Byrd is a very intellectual type of guy. He is all about thinking, he’s about making guys feel that you can’t hit me. Because I have been in the game a long time and because I was a smaller guy at some point in time, I realize that if the guy gets frustrated trying to hit you then he starts losing confidence in his self. One thing that he has to realize, I know the mind game. I am never going to lose confidence. I am always going to hit him.”
Ron: If Byrd starts a peck and run style and the crowd begins to boo, do you think he will have the courage to stop and go toe-to-toe with you?
Evander: “I don’t know. One thing is that if you speculate and think that he won’t, he may. Then again, he may not, but I have to fight my fight regardless what he does. If he wants to peck, peck, peck and keep running, and keep running, then the judges will have to make that call.”
Ron: It’s been seven long weeks of training camp and you have already accomplished everything Evander. People will continue to ask, what’s next for Evander, he is 40 years old, why does he continue to fight?
Evander: “If I had accomplished everything, I wouldn’t even be fighting. I would be the undisputed Heavyweight Champion and I would be sitting down somewhere and doing something else. I have accomplished a lot of things, but I have yet accomplished being the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the world. When I do so, I will move on to something better.”
Ron: What will it feel like to you to be able to find a way to trap the Byrd, once you have him in the cage?
Evander: “Its not hard to trap anybody. Only thing is you have to know what one’s character is. I know his character. He gets excited when he is ahead. So if he thinks he is ahead, or thinks I am hurt, you know what, just out of his character, he will do the same thing Michael Moorer did. He will square right up with me and he will be in trouble.
Ron: It’s hard to imagine that he will be able to stand up to your right hands. Evander, I just want to say that you mean so much to this sport of boxing. You’re a historian, you’re a Legend. Regardless of the outcome, you will remain a Legend. I wish much success and God bless you Evander.
Evander: “Thank you.”
After the interview, Evander shared with me what his most defining fights were so far in his career. It was the Michael Dokes fight back in 1989, the 3 fights against Bowe, and the 1st Tyson fight.
It’s safe to say, Evander has definitely provided the fight fans a lot of exciting memories in the ring. Who knows, he may still have some more where they came from.
Tune in Saturday night 12/14 on HBO to see how this fight will unfold. It’s a Don King Production that is a sure bet to provide plenty of excitement!
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Ron Brashear can be contacted at brashear@insideboxing.com, ron@brasheargear.com