Evander Holyfield is in the boxing history books as one the best to ever do it.
Over a 27 year career with 57 fights, Holyfield made history by becoming the first man to win undisputed titles in two weight divisions as well as being the only four-time heavyweight champion.
The fighter from Alabama won his belts in three different decades, and his experience in the top division would be useful to any man in the current era. Having said that, he likes to let today’s generation do their own thing and says he will only input if its requested.
‘The Real Deal’ told IFL TV that one man who did indeed ask his advice was Anthony Joshua – specifically before his world title fight with Wladimir Klitschko. Holyfield’s answer was simple.
“I remember when Anthony Joshua was getting ready to fight Klitschko. He seen me, he asked me. He said ‘what should I do?'”
“I said ‘man, be first. If you be first man ain’t nobody going to get to you.’ And he won the title. But the point of the matter is he asked me. I didn’t come running up to him and say I’ve got something for you.”
“He’s got the long arms, and he’s strong. Be first. That’s what my coaches tell me – in anything in life, be first. Don’t get hit first because you’ll get knocked out. That’ll be over. If you hit him first, let him worry about if he’s going to be knocked out.”
In the fight, Joshua was indeed first to hurt his man. He sent Klitschko to the canvas in the fifth, but was forced to take his own medicine in the sixth as the Ukrainian dazed and dropped him.
Ultimately, and after a few cautious rounds, the Brit prevailed. The referee waved the contest off in the eleventh after a career-defining fight back from Joshua.
More recently, the Watford man lost his titles to another Ukrainian in Oleksandr Usyk. He now finds himself in comeback mode with 2023 being as important a year as any in his impressive career.