Chat Reel: Evander Holyfield

'Real Deal' aims to unify the heavyweight title

Evander Holyfield is hoping to win his rematch with John Ruiz. David Leeds/Allsport

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's boxing chat with Evander Holyfield. Welcome Evander and thanks for joining us.
Evander Holyfield: Thanks for having me.

From Mike Anderson in Sydney, Australia: Evander, why are you always written off? Are people just jealous? After you knockout John Ruiz, I'd like to see you get revenge against Lennox Lewis!
Evander Holyfield: I think part of it is envy. Or it could be people don't understand me as a person. And I look forward to being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

From dlaguardia: Did you request a different referee this time?
Evander Holyfield: No I did not. But they had already chosen a referee.

From David LaGuardia in Homestead, Fla.: The last fight Ruiz waited to the end of each round to rally and steal the round. How are you going to counter that? The last fight you were missing with the right hand. It appeared as though you were loading up to much. What have you done in training to become more accurate?
Evander Holyfield: Smart guy. I realize I was loading up. I will throw punches in bunches and not look for the quick knockout.

From Evander: How much is your Christianity a part of your boxing?
Evander Holyfield: Christianity is my boxing because it is my faith.

From Dan Horrighs in Girard, Ill.: Evander, why has John Ruiz given you such a problem? Would you attribute it to being to old as some critics say, or him being an awkward fighter? What do you plan to do different?
Evander Holyfield: The reasons why Ruiz has given me a problem in the past two fight is I'm so accustomed to fighting guys who have better skills. He is such an awkward fighter and you don't know what he will do. But I will fight different this time, and fight the type of fight I need to win.

From Andy Nelson in Lewisburg Tenn.: If you win Saturday night and Mike Tyson beats Lennox Lewis. How could we see another rematch with Tyson if Tyson said that he will not fight any bout promoted by Don King who is your promoter?
Evander Holyfield: A lot of times a lot fighters say a lot things, but when money becomes the issue it can change a lot of the things that people say.

From Evander: This fight with Ruiz will it go the distance or are you feeling you can put him down quickly?
Evander Holyfield: I will knock him out. It probably won't go the distance.

From Andy Nelson in Lewisburg Tenn.: Evander, being a great champion as you are. Do you think that Felix Trinidad can come back from the loss to Bernard Hopkins or do you think that he should retire from boxing?
Evander Holyfield: Yes, he can comeback. If he doesn't have to fight Hopkins he can make some changes and comeback. He can recapture that division.

From Des in the Netherlands: I think you are one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Why does Tyson have a lot of difficulties fighting a fighter like you?
Evander Holyfield: He has a difficult time because I can fight different styles. The fighter who will persevere is the one who can adapt and be committed. And I'm committed, and I can work my skills. But the most important thing is my faith, and I believe that I can do it.

From Gardar Gislason in Reykjavik, Iceland: Who is in your opinion the toughest fighter you have ever fought?
Evander Holyfield: Riddick Bowe was the most difficult.

From Matthew in Baltimore: I have followed your heavyweight career over the last ten years starting with your first heavyweight fight with Michael Dokes and have been a loyal fan ever since. However, in your last fight with Ruiz it hurt me to see you get hit by such a sloppy fighter. I believe in your prime you were to quick to get hit by those sloppy punches, and if one did happen to connect you would have just shook it off. You took the best of Mike Tyson, and this guy is no Mike Tyson. What are you going to do to make sure you do not get hit as much?
Evander Holyfield: Well, it's the shot you don't see that hurts you. So I have to make sure I avoid that shot.

From Evander: How has your life changed in the past 10-15 years in boxing and in your day-to-day living?
Evander Holyfield: It has changed a lot. The changed has come in fighting because I don't fight on emotion as much. As you mature you fight on knowledge because fighting on emotion can cause you to make mistakes. It's similar in every day life just living with the knowledge that you gain with age.

From Evander: Are fighters at your level good friends, or do you really get the chance to talk and share with them?
Evander Holyfield: It's very rare that you are friends with people that you fight. You wouldn't even call then associates. I had few that were friends like Riddick Bowe and Henry Tillman but it is very rare.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Evander Holyfield. Evander, thanks for joining us and good luck on Saturday.
Evander Holyfield: Thanks a lot.