Before becoming a four-time heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield was an ordinary fighter with a passion for hard work. He did not become “The Real Deal” by looking for shortcuts and easy ways out. Holyfield believed in training hard, even if that meant training thrice a day and showing up consistently.

His training routine was nothing short of brutal. Holyfield practiced sparring daily, along with focusing on bag work, technical work, and boxing drills. He also strength trained several times a week, along with practicing shock plyometrics twice a week.

“I never believed in shortcuts. I stayed ready and did the work,” Holyfield revealed in an Instagram post.

What was even more surprising was the intensity and volume of his training. Holyfield worked out thrice a day: morning, noon, and evening.

As per Fortis, he designed three bodybuilding programs that he would switch between, giving his mind and body the chance to experience differing intensities.

“If you love what you’re doing, you want to be the very best. You want to make sure that you don’t lose. And then, do your very best. Because you stay prepared. And staying prepared means that you’re going to be successful,” he shared in his Instagram post.

Holyfield’s plyometrics routine was designed to improve his balance and explosive strength. The combination of jogging, hopping, and skipping might look easy, but it is actually extremely intense.

Alongside following a brutal workout routine, Holyfield shared the typical diet plan that helps him fuel up and stay energized for fights.

The fuel behind the grind: Holyfield's protein-first diet

Unlike many athletes, Holyfield never followed a strict diet plan that he considered foolproof. Instead, he preferred tweaking his diet as and when required. However, if there was one thing that was a non-negotiable for Holyfield, it was his love for meat.

According to the same Fortis article, he loved all kinds of meat- from lamb to chicken, seafood, beef, and fish. Like most fitness enthusiasts and athletes, he focused heavily on his protein intake, sharing that it helped him stay fuller for much longer and avoid snacking.

Holyfield typically ate 4-5 meals every day, which largely consisted of meat but also had a good amount of vegetables.

Furthermore, he did not shy away from eating carbs, revealing that he used them as fuel for his body. His typical food choices included chicken, pasta, steamed vegetables, eggs, salmon, and fruit.

Holyfield’s journey proves that champions are built through consistency and discipline. Anyone who advocates shortcuts is simply not cut out for greatness.

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi