By Allan Fox: Evander Holyfield is being helped out by Wladimir Klitschko with his comeback to get him ready for exhibition matches. The 57-year-old Holyfield (44-10-2, 29 KOs) is getting ready to come out of retirement after nine years for a possible charity match against 53-year-old former IBF/WBA/WBC heavyweight champion Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs).
Former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver is also seen helping Holyfield train. Tarver said, “The Real Deal is back, baby”
“Team Holyfield preparing for battle,” said Holyfield on his Instagram site.
During the video clip, former IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir shakes Holyfield’s hand. Moments later, Holyfield is seen jumping ropes while Wladimir looks on. There’s no word whether the 6’6″ Wladimir will be sparring Holyfield. If he does, he might not take it easy on him. Wladimir almost beat Anthony Joshua in 2017.
The former four-time world champion Holyfield posted a video of himself on social media on Friday working out with Wladimir, and he looks in good shape for a fighter his age.
Although Holyfield looks in superb shape physically, his hand speed is nowhere near the level that we’re seeing with ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, who has been posting videos of his own and looking unbelievably fast and powerful.
Indeed, Tyson is faster and more explosive than the current crop of heavyweights in this era.
Tyson and Holyfield haven’t given a date for when they plan on taking part in their exhibition matches. We probably won’t see Tyson battle Holyfield in their first exhibition match, though, as Shannon Briggs is saying he’ll be fighting Tyson.
The tricep dips Holyfield did while wearing a heavy chain around his neck was impressive, but it also doesn’t mean much. His lack of hand speed could be a problem for him if he gets in there with Tyson. Holyfield beat Tyson twice in 1996 and 1997, but that doesn’t mean he’ll beat this version of him.
What we don’t know is if Holyfield, Tyson, and Briggs will be able to pocket some of their earnings from the charity matches.
Holyfield looks physically sharp, but his hand speed gives him away in showing his age. His punches are about as slow as George Foreman’s when he made a comeback at age 40 in the late 1980s.
The difference between Foreman and Holyfield is Big George had a lot more power. Foreman could still punch despite being out of the ring over ten years, and coming back as a fat 250-260+ pound heavyweight. During Foreman’s prime, his weight was below 220 pounds.
Holyfield’s net worth is approximately $500,000, according to Celebrity Net Worth. If that’s accurate, then it doesn’t make sense for him to give all his earnings from his exhibition matches to charity. Compared to many of the boxers that fight today, Holyfield trails considerably in net worth.
