Evander Holyfield's Biography

Evander Holyfield was born on 19 October 1962. He grew up in Atmore, Alabama.

The former heavyweight boxing champion of the world was nicknamed "The Real Deal".

Evander Holyfield was unlucky in the 1984 Olympics to pick up only a bronze after losing in the semi-finals because he knocked out his opponent after the referee had called break.

In his early years as a professional boxer, Evander Holyfield took the WBA world cruiserweight title. He then took the IBF and WBC crowns to become the undisputed champion.

Holyfield then moved up to heavyweight and in 1990 beat James 'Buster' Douglas to become world champion.

In 1992, he lost the title to Riddick Bowe. He then regained it, only to lose the crown soon after to Michael Moorer.

In 1996, he defeated Mike Tyson to win the WBA heavyweight title.

The rematch took place the following year and became one of the most notorious contests in boxing history because in the third round Tyson bit a chunk out of one of Holyfield's ears!

In 1999 Evander Holyfield had a couple of bouts against Lennox Lewis, drawing the first but losing the second, however in 2000, Holyfield beat John Ruiz to become heavyweight world champion for the fourth time. Two years later he lost the title to Chris Byrd.

In spite of his age Holyfield kept boxing until 2012.

In 2014, Evander Holyfield became one of the housemates in Celebrity Big Brother.