Evander Holyfield is more qualified than most when it comes to debating who is the greatest heavyweight of all time.
“The Real Deal” moved up to heavyweight in the late 1980s after becoming uncontested at cruiserweight, and it didn’t take long for him to make an impact in the banner division.
He became undisputed heavyweight champion with a victory over Buster Douglas in 1990, and other victories throughout his career against Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Larry Holmes and Riddick Bowe cemented Holyfield’s place as one of the best of all time.
When it comes to the number one heavyweight of all time, most boxing fans give that honor to Muhammad Ali, who became a three-time heavyweight champion of the world with victories over fighters such as Foreman, Joe Frazier and Sonny Liston.
Holyfield disagrees, however, as he told Seconds Out that he believes his own accomplishments outweigh anything Ali has managed to achieve.
“I’m the only four-time world heavyweight champion but people still talk about Ali when I broke his record. I’m the only four-time world heavyweight champion for 24 years.
“You can’t talk about it until you break someone’s record, they don’t say anything about me. How can you write someone out of history? Now, I didn’t even know I was the undisputed first person in two weight divisions, until Usyk did it. They keep saying Ali is the best fighter, no, I am. He’s been three times, I’ve got four.”
Holyfield’s argument is fair, but the debate over the greatest heavyweight of all time will undoubtedly continue to rage for years to come.
