Holyfield gives Mandela purple satin boxing robe
Holyfield gives Mandela purple satin boxing robe
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP): President Nelson Mandela had no boxing tips for Evander Holyfield when the two met Monday, but the heavyweight champion had something for Mandela - a white and purple satin boxing robe.
A buoyant Mandela hugged Holyfield and kissed his wife, Janice, when the pair arrived at Mandela's residence for a dinner meeting before the president heads off to Britain, Thailand and Indonesia later Monday night.
"I'll never wash this hand," quipped Mandela, wearing one of his trademark brightly patterned shirts, after shaking hands with Holyfield, decked out in a pinstripe suit and brown leather shoes.
The three-time heavyweight champion looked like a nervous schoolboy, standing quietly with his hands clasped and smiling as Mandela introduced his companion, Graca Machel, and then clowned for a crowd of journalists by squaring off with Holyfield and putting on the robe he received as a gift.
"I have his boxing gloves from when he first won the championship," said Mandela, adding that he and Holyfield met several times in the past during Mandela's travels to the United States.
Mandela, a former boxer, respectfully declined to offer any ring advice for Holyfield, who successfully defended his WBA title just over a week ago when Mike Tyson was disqualified for biting his ears twice in the third round of their rematch in Las Vegas.
"Everybody should follow his style who wants to be champion," Mandela said. "He is the three-times world champion."
Holyfield, known as the Real Deal, jokingly called himself the Real Meal when he arrived in South Africa on Sunday in reference to the infamous biting incident.
Tyson goes before the Nevada Athletic Commission in the United States today to learn if he will get suspended for biting off a chunk of Holyfield's right ear, then biting him again on the left ear.
Earlier Monday, Holyfield appeared at a Coca-Cola sponsored gathering in the Soweto black township where he danced to music by a live band and told a few hundred onlookers they must identify their goals and work hard to achieve them.
Boxing is extremely popular in South Africa, and Holyfield is considered a hero for twice beating Tyson, who also has a large following in the country.