The Champ has been immortalized with a new statue in downtown Atlanta. Boxer Evander Holyfield’s bust was unveiled at a ceremony on Friday, June 25, 2021.
Holyfield, 58, was on hand along with sports tycoon Arthur Blank, owner of the Blank Family of Businesses, who presented the statue to him.
Evander Holyfield Statue Unveiled In Downtown Atlanta
Holyfield credited his mother and the local Boys Club in his hometown with helping him turn into the man he is today.
He said a trophy he won earlier made a big difference in his life. “The Boys Club gave me the opportunity to become who I am. They had a boxing program. I didn’t really like boxing, but since I won that trophy, when I brought that trophy home and found out that my Mama liked trophies,” he said.
Holyfield joins Atlanta Hawks great Dominique Wilkins as the two legendary sports figures with busts in downtown Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.
The Holyfield statue was commissioned by the City of Atlanta in 2017. Sculptor Brian Hanlon designed it and it was in storage for all that time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, it has seen the light of day.
To know why the statue is important for Atlanta as well as Holyfield, one has to know his history.
Evander Holyfield: History Of Greatness
Holyfield was born in in 1962 in Atmore, Alabama. He had eight other siblings.
Holyfield rose to fame after he won the bronze medal at the at the 1984 Summer Olympics. At age 21, he won his first world championship by defeating Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBA title.
Holyfield fought as a heavyweight to get a shot at undisputed champ Mike Tyson in 1989, but in a shock to the world, Buster Douglas took the title.
One year later in October 1990, an overweight Douglas lost to Holyfield in an easy contest for the Atlanta resident.
In 1996, Holyfield would finally meet Tyson in the ring, beating him in an 11th round TKO. Because the fight didn’t unify the belts, the two met again in a rematch.
“The Bite Fight” went down in history as an outrageous affair, which ended in Tyson biting off a chunk of Holyfield’s ear.
After several comebacks, Holyfield officially retired in 2014, the same year his iconic mansion was purchased by another Atlanta celebrity. Read on to learn more about that.
The Holyfield Mansion
The Holyfield Mansion is an Atlanta landmark that has become a tourist attraction for passersby. Officially in Fayetteville County, Georgia, the home is on Evander Holyfield Highway.
How Big Is The Holyfield Mansion?
The Holyfield Mansion is the largest home in Georgia. It spans 44,234 square feet and sits on 105 acres. As for the rooms in the home, there are109 of them, including, a 135-seat theater, spa, a bowling alley and more.
Who Owns Holyfield’s Mansion In Atlanta?
Rapper and businessman Rick Ross purchased the Holyfield Mansion in 2014 for $10 million. The home was set to be foreclosed on when Ross stepped in to purchase it.
Final Thoughts
From humble beginnings in Alabama, to worldwide fame, Holyfield has experienced it all.
Holyfield is an Atlanta legend and one of the best sports figures that city has ever had. The Holyfield Mansion remains the swankiest home in the Southeast.
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