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I was asked to speak at a high
powered business executive
evening in Cape Town last week
discussing the state of boxing
in the world today when a senior
South African politician asked a
question regarding our World
Heavyweight champion Evander
'The Real Deal' Holyfield and
his incredible, almost
unbelievable longevity in the
boxing game.
In this month's column I will
endeavor to report much of the
response that I provided on that
evening.
The world is filled with
millions of individuals, each
with his or her own
characteristics, genetics and
each with the capacity to make
choices. How we live as
individuals, what we eat, how we
train and exercise are the
choices that we are confronted
with and the choices we then in
fact make. There are young
people in their seventies and
eighties and old people in their
twenties and thirties.
Case in point is my dear friend
Simmy Lewis of Cape Town. Simmy
has been, and remains, arguably
one of the greatest boxing
statisticians in the
world. Virtually on a daily
basis I call Simmy for
information which he delivers,
and delivers accurately without
needing to refer to any books or
documents. Simmy has one of the
greatest and sharpest brains
today. He is an unbelievable man
who at the tender age of 93!
defies his years.
So too, but in a different way
is the 'Real Deal'. Evander
Holyfield eats carefully, works
and trains hard, is dedicated to
the sport he loves, looks like
he could be in his late
twenties, has the physique of a
young Mike Tyson and knows
exactly what he can and can't
do. Evander too is an
unbelievable man who at the
tender age of 47 defies his
years.
Like everyone in the world,
Evander still has dreams - that
to unify all the heavyweight
titles. Is it possible? Is
Evander too old? Should he
retire?
I am an extremely proud WBF
President - extremely proud of
Evander and of his remarkable
achievements and career. I
believe that miracles are
possible, but I have been and
will remain honest with Ken
Sanders and Evander, and give
them my honest opinion about
Evander's future, after each and
every fight. I look forward to
going to Detroit to watch our
champ in action against the
dangerous Sherman 'The Tank'
Williams and wish Evander all
the best for his defense.
Evander Holyfield is a legend.
He is a role model and icon to
the youth. Evander Holyfield is
a highly intelligent man, who
himself will know deep down,
when the right time comes to put
away his gloves. Until now we
wish the people's champion,
Evander 'The Real Deal'
Holyfield the best and
congratulate him for all he has
achieved, and for what he will
achieve in the rest of his
career. You, Evander, are truly
the REAL DEAL!
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing
Federation
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