As a professional boxer, young and in peak physical condition, Evan Holyfield, 26, never expected to learn that he had a serious heart condition, but that was the reality he faced in September 2023.
“When I first got the news that I was going to need open heart surgery, it was a surreal moment,” Holyfield said. “It didn’t seem real to me until probably about 24 hours before the surgery.”
His father, multi-time heavyweight and Olympic champion Evander Holyfield, named him Eleazar, meaning ‘one whom God helps’, yet he goes by his middle name, Evan, a shortened version of his father’s name.
That divine help emerged during preparation for a professional boxing match when Evan experienced unusual symptoms during his training, such as vomiting and chest pain. Initially attributing them to anxiety or stress, he learned after a doctor’s visit that the situation was much more severe.
“They hooked me up to the EKG and then said I needed to go to the emergency room immediately,” recalled Holyfield. “I must have had a cardiac arrest or some arrhythmic thing happening with my heart.”
Doctors diagnosed him with a right coronary anomaly, a congenital cardiac blood vessel malformation. According to the Cleveland Clinic, up to 1% of people are born with a coronary anomaly, though most are not dangerous.
However, Evan Holyfield required surgery to ensure his survival. This revelation led to a critical moment: undergo surgery or never step into the boxing ring again.
“I really didn’t have a choice but to get the surgery,” Evan Holyfield said. “I would have to put myself in a box and wouldn’t be able to do anything very exciting.” And it could be at any given time that I could just drop dead.”
Holyfield said that his post-surgery recovery was physically demanding and the support from his family, friends, and trainers played a crucial role in his recovery process.
“Just going from being a very capable person and being able to do everything for myself to kind of starting over was hard,” Holyfield, currently 11-1 as a professional fighter, said. “It’s really just important to have those people around you that really keep you comfortable and reassure you.”
Murray Kampf, staff trainer at Sugar Bert Boxing in Doraville where Holyfield trains, said he has known him since he was a teen and has always provided support. Kampgf says he now keeps a closer eye on him post-surgery.
“I always like to remind him that health is number one and most important in your life, so take it easy, don’t just jump back in, and you’ll build back up to where you were,” Kampf said. “He’s a hard worker, so it has been hard to kind of keep him from going too fast sometimes.”
Holyfield cautiously returned to training earlier this year. He and his cardiologist use technology, such as a smartwatch strapped to his ankle, and they both monitor his heart rate and ensure he’s not pushing too hard too soon.
“The number one thing was that I didn’t want to push myself to a limit where I actually hindered myself, so I asked him, ‘How would I know if I’m pushing myself a little bit too hard?’” Evan Holyfield said. “He suggested that I use my watch so he can monitor my heart rhythms, and if anything comes out of rhythm, he gets in contact with me.”
His newfound knowledge and titanium reinforced chest protecting his heart allow him to train smarter, push harder, and rejuvenate his love for boxing.
“I wake up every day, go to the gym, and that’s my purpose. At night, I feel like I actually worked, like I’ve put my life towards something,” Holyfield said.
He sets high goals for himself as he prepares to return to competition. He plans to test himself against strong competition right from the start, believing his new lease on life has given him an edge.
“I plan on, when I come back, whether it’s at the end of this year or early next year, to just test myself,” Holyfield said confidently. “There’s really no reason for me to be baby-stepping now. I should know what I am able to do after my first fight, and I am just excited for the future and what lies ahead.”
According to Evan Holyfield, the surgery wasn’t just a physical battle; it also tested him mentally, and the fear of never returning to the ring has forever changed how he lives his life.
“Life will come at you. It will throw dirt, rain, and snow at you, whatever—it will try to make you change the perspective of who you once were,” Holyfield said. “You have to stand strong, remember why you’re here, what you stand for, and not let life change you. Sometimes, you have to look in the mirror to remember who that person is.”