Evander Holyfield wants to see butts in seats Saturday night

Atlanta- Showtime Boxing and State Farm Arena are teaming up to host championship boxing on Saturday, Dec. 28. two-time super featherweight champion Gervonta Davis and former title holder Yuriorkis Gamboa will go head to head for the title in front of what Evander Holyfield hopes will be a near capacity crowd. A tough ask few days after Christmas, but the champ and Atlanta native is hopeful his hometown will come out to see quality boxing. 

“I’m so happy that we are having the fight here,” said Holyfield who was in State Farm Arena Sunday night to talk to the media about the fight before the Hawks hosted the Los Angeles Lakers. “I fought [here] three times and the last time in 1998 we had 50,000 in there. It’s Showtime and the people need to know they are going to see a show.”

That 1998 heavyweight title fight, on September 19 in the Georgia Dome, was against Vaughn Bean for the WBA/IBF title. It was Holyfield’s first fight of the year and went the full 12 rounds ending in a unanimous decision for the champ, 117-110, 117-110, 116-111. Holyfield remembers the night fondly, especially the support he got from the home crowd. he would like to see a similar level of energy at State Farm Arena later this month. “We do need more title fights in Atlanta but the most important thing is that people have to show up,” said Holyfield, also a former Olympic gold medalist. “In order for there to be more title fights in Atlanta people have to show up.” 

December 28 will be the perfect opportunity for fight fans from all over the state to see Las Vegas, Atlantic City, New York City and Los Angeles level championship boxing in their own backyard. “That’s why they call it showtime, we can do something [here],” said Holyfield with a laugh. 

Tickets for the fight are on sale now and the fight will be broadcast on Showtime’s cable network as well.

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