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.