Former champion Holyfield tells children of his troubled past

Mar 7 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

EVANDER HOLYFIELD, the former world heavyweight champion, drew deep on his own troubled childhood when he met Liverpool school children yesterday.

The imposing American also used the visit to Central Library as part of World Book Day to confirm he is in the process of setting up a fight with old enemy Mike Tyson.

Tyson famously bit a section of Holyfield’s right ear off in a title bout in 1997. Now, aged 47, the four-time champ told about 30 children and young boxers that he had no fears about stepping back into the ring with Tyson.

Mr Holyfield said his book, Becoming Holyfield: A Fighter’s Journey, had taken two years to write. Large crowds later gathered to meet him at a book event at Waterstones in Bold Street. He said: “ When I started boxing we were very poor. The whole key to life is being able to learn something and when you get older give something back.”