Evander Holyfield's next fight isn't attracting big pay-per-view fees and there aren't a lot of bets going down on the outcome, but the three-time heavyweight isn't considering his May 15 opponent a lightweight — even if that person is former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
"He's very knowledgeable, [and] when people are very knowledgeable, you kind of have to worry yourself,"
Holyfield told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program. "I don't want to get hit."
All the same, Romney, 68, hopes that Holyfield will be gentle with him during the fight, being held in Salt Lake City to raise money for Charity Vision, a group that provides medical support for visually impaired people.
"His trainer said, 'you can throw anything you want, Mitt, because there's no way you're going to get through,'" Romney said to Fox News' Brian Kilmeade. " 'He's so fast, he will be able to brush aside anything you throw.' "
Romney said he hopes to "at least touch the guy" and, he adds, "that he will be gentle with me."
Holyfield told Fox that he's not worried about hurting the former Massachusetts governor, who is better known for throwing jabs during debates than in a boxing ring.
"He has to trust me now like I would have had to trust him when it comes to politics," Holyfield told Fox News while watching a video of him and Romney sparring.
"Look at that!" Holyfield said. "Actually, that's good. That's really good."
In March, Romney
told The Salt Lake Tribune that the fight will either be short or he'll "be knocked unconscious."
Charity Vision was founded by Romney's friend, retired Salt Lake Dr. Bill Jackson, to help raise money to supply medical equipment for poor areas worldwide. Earlier this year, Romney traveled to India with Jackson and others to help raise money for the charity.
The bout between Romney and Holyfield will not be the only one on the card on May 15, as "there will be bouts between real, active professional prize fighters," Romney said. "We just thought it would be a lot better to provide this kind of entertainment rather than just have dinner and listen to speakers."
Watch the video here.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.