House Bill 9365

    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HR 9365

        By Representative Roberts-Burke






  1                         House Resolution

  2         A resolution honoring Evander Holyfield,

  3         Heavyweight Champion of the World.

  4

  5         WHEREAS, Evander Holyfield was born on October 19,

  6  1962, in Atmore, Alabama, the youngest of nine children born

  7  to Annie Laura Holyfield and Isom Coley, and

  8         WHEREAS, at age four, Evander and his family moved to

  9  Atlanta, Georgia, and

10         WHEREAS, at age eight, Evander Holyfield began his

11  boxing career at the Warren Boys Club in southeast Atlanta,

12  and

13         WHEREAS, it was in Atlanta that Carter Morgan, his late

14  coach, told eight-year-old Evander Holyfield that he could be

15  the heavyweight champion of the world, and

16         WHEREAS, that interaction and Evander's vision, strong

17  desire, excellent work ethic, and steadfast perseverance began

18  the illustrious career of Evander Holyfield and would

19  eventually make him the champion he is today, and

20         WHEREAS, at eight years of age Evander won the Boys

21  Club Boxing Tournament, and

22         WHEREAS, at age 11 he competed in his first Junior

23  Olympics, and at ages 12 through 15 he won the tournament

24  regionally, and

25         WHEREAS, in 1979, at age 16, Evander's weight had

26  increased to 139 pounds, placing him in the Junior

27  Welterweight division, and he became the Southeastern Regional

28  Champion, winning both the tournament and the Best Boxer

29  Award, and

30         WHEREAS, Evander continued to compete and advanced

31  through the various weight classes and by age 17 was fighting

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  1  in the Welterweight division, by age 18 in the Junior

  2  Middleweight division, and then the Middleweight division, and

  3         WHEREAS, at age 19 Evander was competing in the Light

  4  Heavyweight division, was the Sportsfest Boxing Champion, and

  5  was ranked the number one boxer in his class in the United

  6  States, and

  7         WHEREAS, it was at this time that he represented the

  8  United States in the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela,

  9  winning a Silver Medal, and

10         WHEREAS, the following year he was the National Golden

11  Gloves Champion, representing the United States in the 1984

12  Olympics in Los Angeles and winning a Bronze Medal, and

13         WHEREAS, Evander Holyfield made his professional boxing

14  debut in November 1984, defeating Lionel Bryams, and

15         WHEREAS, in 1986 he won his first Cruiserweight title

16  against Dwight M. Qawi, a WBA Junior Heavyweight, becoming the

17  first boxer of the 1984 Olympics to win a championship title,

18  and

19         WHEREAS, in 1987 he won the IBF Cruiserweight title

20  against Ricky Parkey, and

21         WHEREAS, in 1988 he won the WBC Cruiserweight title

22  against Carlos DeLeon, making Evander the only boxer in

23  history to become an undefeated, undisputed Cruiserweight

24  Champion, and

25         WHEREAS, to this day, all Cruiserweight championship

26  belts bear Evander Holyfield's picture, as a lasting tribute

27  to his legacy, and

28         WHEREAS, unwilling to become complacent as a result of

29  his Cruiserweight success, Evander continued advancing in his

30  goal to become the World Heavyweight Champion, and

31

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  1         WHEREAS, in less than a year, in 1989, Evander

  2  Holyfield became the WBC Continental Heavyweight Champion

  3  defeating Michael Dokes, and

  4         WHEREAS, a year later, on October 25, 1990, Evander

  5  Holyfield fulfilled his dream of 20 years when he became the

  6  undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World by defeating

  7  Buster Douglas, thus being named the IBF, WBA, and WBC

  8  Champion, and

  9         WHEREAS, Evander Holyfield remained the undisputed

10  Heavyweight Champion of the World until 1992, when he lost his

11  title to Riddick Bowe, and

12         WHEREAS, Evander regained his championship title in his

13  rematch with Riddick Bowe in 1993, and

14         WHEREAS, 1994 was a pivotal point in Evander's career,

15  losing his title to Michael Moorer and receiving a medical

16  misdiagnosis which cost him his boxing license, and

17         WHEREAS, however, Evander Holyfield's spirit, his

18  commitment to excellence, his sense of destiny, and his faith

19  in God allowed him to overcome these obstacles and return to

20  the sport of boxing in May 1995, winning a decision over Ray

21  Mercer, and

22         WHEREAS, at that time, only Muhammad Ali had won a

23  World Heavyweight Championship title three times, and

24         WHEREAS, on November 9, 1996, Evander Holyfield

25  defeated Mike Tyson and entered the history books once again

26  as only the second man in history to become a three-time World

27  Heavyweight Champion, and

28         WHEREAS, Evander Holyfield has carried his championship

29  drive and vision into all facets of his life, and

30         WHEREAS, from his humble beginnings in a Christian home

31  where honesty, courtesy, confidence, integrity, and faith in

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  1  God were instilled in him, to his life today, Evander

  2  Holyfield and his wife, Dr. Janice Holyfield, currently

  3  instill these same values in their six children and in

  4  children around the world, and

  5         WHEREAS, this vision is perpetuated in the

  6  establishment of the Evander Holyfield Foundation, a lasting

  7  monument and vehicle through which Evander Holyfield supports

  8  his charitable interests, and

  9         WHEREAS, in addition, the Evander Holyfield Annual Golf

10  and Tennis Charity Outing has made major contributions to the

11  Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and

12         WHEREAS, Evander Holyfield also brings this same vision

13  and sense of destiny to his business endeavors, bringing him

14  tremendous success in financial circles, and

15         WHEREAS, Evander Holyfield's boxing success and

16  sponsorships annually make him one of the highest paid

17  athletes in the world, and

18         WHEREAS, his presence and associations with companies

19  such as Coca-Cola and others have spawned substantial gains in

20  revenue and market share, and

21         WHEREAS, in addition, through his many television and

22  personal appearances, Evander Holyfield has become one of the

23  10 most recognized persons in the world, NOW, THEREFORE,

24

25  Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of

26  Florida:

27

28         That the House of Representatives of the State of

29  Florida hereby recognizes and honors Evander Holyfield,

30  Heavyweight Champion of the World.

31

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  1         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution

  2  be presented to Evander Holyfield as a tangible token of the

  3  sentiments expressed herein.

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