Evander Holyfield sings Mary Kom’s praises

Evander Holyfield has revealed that he is a keen follower of Mary Kom

“I find her very great because it is amazing how this young woman in India is doing boxing which is considered an American game.”

Those were the words of American heavyweight boxing legend Evander Holyfield as he spoke highly of India’s five-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist, MC Mary Kom. Mary has innumerable followers in the country for her exploits braving severe odds along the way as well as for her very likeable personality and simple demeanour.

Now, it looks like she has a ‘heavyweight’ follower from abroad too. Holyfield has said that he is a keen follower of Mary’s boxing adventures and is in awe of her achievements.

“Yes, I follow her. She is a great girl. I find her very great because it is amazing how this young woman in India is doing boxing which is considered an American game. It’s great that she is doing well,” said Holyfield at a gathering outside Parliament for a pre-Christmas function held by a social organization.

Mary is currently on a hiatus, having been away from the boxing arena ever since the birth of her third child earlier this year.

Holyfield, a major star of professional boxing back in the USA as well as a bronze medalist at the 1984 Olympics in the heavyweight division, has shown interest in Indian boxing previously too.

He was present at the 2008 Beijing Olympics during Vijender Singh’s semifinal bout. Vijender went on to lose the match, but he did pick up a bronze medal, in the process becoming India’s first Olympic medalist in boxing.

Holyfield was also asked if he was willing to promote boxing in India to which he replied, “Nobody has asked me to do that but if somebody asks me, I will be happy to do it.”