Boxing legend Holyfield takes aim at media and commentators

Five times world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has hit out at the media for “bringing down” modern day boxing stars.

In an interview to be published in Arabian Business, Holyfield said boxing commentators and the media were “envious and jealous” of boxers, resulting in few big name stars making it in the modern era.

“When u have negative commentators  who at every opportunity they get  a shot to put a person down, they will…its self destructive.  They shouldn’t have commentators who are jealous and envious of a guy that’s boxing….I think when the boxing people come together and say we got to leave things at home at home, and let work be work,” Holyfield told the magazine.

He added:  “We as people we all fall short somewhere  in our lives. They (the media)  are looking for reasons to bring you down rather than pick you up. You don’t go and find out what somebody did at 11 years old and then when he’s 30 years old, say  this is the reason why he’s crazy. When you was a kid you act like a kid. But they (the media) act like this guy is running for public office, and that you got to find the same things they look for in presidents. In sport these guys get there because they work,  and now you want to judge them like they are running for office.”

Holyfield remains one of the most successful fighters ever in history, having won the heavyweight title five times and earning $230million in prize money.