Holyfield’s real deal: Home back on auction block

By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP)—Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield is facing foreclosure again on his sprawling estate in suburban Atlanta.

But Holyfield told The Associated Press on Thursday that a settlement would be reached before the 54,000-square-foot home was auctioned.

“It will be worked out,” boxing’s first four-time heavyweight champion said when reached on his cell phone. He declined further comment.

A year after the 235-acre estate was first put on the auction block, a legal notice placed last week in the Fayette Daily News said Holyfield was back in default on his $10 million loan. An auction was scheduled for July 7 on the courthouse steps.

The home—located south of Atlanta on Evander Holyfield Highway—has 109 rooms, including 17 bathrooms, three kitchens and a bowling alley.

Holyfield faced foreclosure on the home in June 2008, but a financial settlement was reached with Washington Mutual Bank before a scheduled auction.

This time, he also faces foreclosure on a second Fayette County property, having defaulted on a $216,000 loan to Commonwealth United Mortgage Company.

Holyfield has earned more than $200 million in the ring—including a reported $34 million for his second bout with Mike Tyson in 1997, the infamous “Bite Fight” that ended with Tyson being disqualified for gnawing off a chunk of Holyfield’s ear.

But the 46-year-old Holyfield hasn’t had a huge payday in more than five years and has run into serious financial problems, facing lawsuits over missed child support payments (he reportedly has 11 children) and claims that he failed to repay a more than half-million-dollar loan that went for landscaping his home.

He last fought in December, receiving a reported $600,000 for his challenge against WBA champion Nikolai Valuev in Switzerland. Holyfield lost a disputed majority decision to the 7-foot Russian, missing a chance to become the oldest heavyweight champion.

Holyfield targets September world title fight

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will take another crack at the world title in September, his manager said here Tuesday.

"The September bout could either be against Nikolai Valuev or some other fighter, but it definitely will be against a world champion," Ken Sanders told AFP.

Holyfield is in Addis Ababa to prepare for a July 26 exhibition fight against Ethiopian-born American Sammy Retta to help raise funds for AIDS in what will be the Horn of Africa nation's first ever showpiece boxing bout.

Holyfield, 46, said he is not contemplating retirement despite concerns over his health from some spectators.

"It (retirement) never even crossed my mind. In fact, it reminded me of 1992 when I lost a title and came back to reclaim it," Holyfield said.

"I'll show the world how to be champion at this age."

The four-time world champion failed to clinch a fifth title late last year when he lost to Russian Valuev.

Valuev, the tallest and heaviest champion of all-time according to experts, is currently the holder of the World Boxing Association title.

Holyfield's July 26 opponent Retta is a 35-year-old with a record of 18 wins and three losses in super-middleweight bouts.

At 230 pounds, he now outweighs his more illustrious rival.

Holyfield is best remembered for having his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson in 1997 in a bout which was later coined as the "The Bite Fight".

The July 26 fight will rank as one of the highest-profile all-American boxing bouts on African soil since the legendary 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" that pitted Muhammad Ali against George Foreman in the former Zaire.

Valuev and Uzbekistan's Chagaev are scheduled to box on May 30 for the WBA heavyweight title.

Both fighters hotly dispute the ownership of the belt after Valuev suffered his only defeat when losing to Chagaev in April 2007.

Holyfield to fight Ethiopia exhibition bout in July

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will fight an exhibition match in Ethiopia in July to help raise funds for AIDS victims, promoters announced Friday.

The 46-year-old will take on Ethiopian-born American Sammy Retta in Addis Ababa on July 26, in what will be the Horn of Africa nation's first ever showpiece boxing bout.

"The two boxers and their team will arrive in Addis Ababa on May 17th to conclude a contract and for promotional purposes before the match on July 26," promoter Eshetu Belay told a press conference.

The match will cost organisers upto seven million dollars, Eshetu said, but declined to disclose how much Holyfield would receive in appearance money.

"Evander showed extreme enthusiasm to fight for the first time in Africa. He is very much delighted to be part of such a worthy cause," Eshetu added.

His scheduled opponent is a 35-year-old super-middleweight.

The four-time world champion last fought a competitive match at the end of last year when he lost in controversial circumstances to Russian Sultan Ibragimov in an attempt to clinch an unprecedented fifth title.

Holyfield is best remembered for having his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson in 1997 in a match which was later coined as the "The Bite Fight".

The fight would rank as one of the highest-profile all-American boxing bouts on African soil since the legendary 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" that pitted Muhammad Ali against Joe Frazier in the former Zaire.