“All I know most surely about morality and obligation I owe to football”,
Becoming Holyfield
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Evander Holyfield, London, Simon & Schuster, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84737-137-9
Compared to Holyfield, The humble warrior this book portrays a less saintly and more human Evander Holyfield. This book refers to his three marriages and divorces and his children with two additional women.
That said there are clear statements about praying, putting God in his mind, thanking God in press conferences, including “The first thing that guided me was my faith in God. It was of my life and influenced everything I did”. Very powerfully after being bitten by Mike Tyson, he says: “The first thing [back in dressing room] I did was wave them all to silence and lead a quiet prayer in which I forgave Mike”
There is a four page section (pp210-214) where he explains how he feels able, as a Christian, to be a boxer. He states that he God gave him the gifts and therefore intends him to use them. He explains that he does not hate his opponent; he is simply aiming to win an athletic contest. Afterwards he will hug and congratulate his opponent. He prays before and after fights and believes God is with him in the ring.