Becoming Holyfield: A Fighter's Journey

With the help of Gruenfeld (The Street), Holyfield recounts the story of his career with remarkable honesty and surprising wisdom. Despite becoming the heavyweight champion of the world four times, Holyfield has had a lot of bad luck, from the questionable Olympic disqualification to suffering a heart attack in the ring. He's also candid about his struggles with relationships and monogamy, having sired almost a dozen children with nearly as many women. While he could have expounded further upon certain oddities-Rapper MC Hammer's brief stint as his manager, his daughter's decision to change her name and, of course, his role on television's Dancing with the Stars-what we get is a portrait of a true champion. In an age of whiny, arrogant athletes, Holyfield is a remarkably good sport, allowing his work to speak for itself, reserving judgment and forgiving every person who has wronged him-including Mike Tyson. The only thing he gets defensive about is retirement: he's adamant that his goal is to reclaim the heavyweight title, despite the potential health risks. This memoir is a testament to the strength of his desire and the purity of his drive.