499:
227:, whom Tillis had fought two years prior to his fight with Holyfield. Though Tillis would lose, he had an impressive showing against Tyson, being the first person to go the distance with him and ending Tyson's 19-fight knockout streak. Though he was no longer a contender, Tillis' experience against several top heavyweights led to Holyfield's promoter
261:
separated the two trainers. In round five
Holyfield would hurt Tillis with several power punches in the final minute of the round. Tillis, with his back against the ropes, would barely make it out of the round as Holyfield landed a flurry of punches in the closing seconds. A clearly dazed Tillis
222:
to add the WBC cruiserweight title to the WBA and IBF versions already in his possession and become the first undisputed champion in the division's history. After the victory, Holyfield announced his attentions to move up to heavyweight and veteran fighter and former contender James Tillis was
27:
252:
Holyfield would have little trouble with Tillis, earning a relatively easy referee technical knockout victory. There was a brief controversy at the end of round two as
Holyfield and Tillis traded punches well after the bell rang. Holyfield's trainer
235:
in 1981 for the WBA heavyweight title, though he would lose a 15-round unanimous decision. Since then, Tillis' career had veered largely into journeyman status, facing and losing to several top heavyweights, including future and former champions
270:
After the fight
Holyfield would say that "It was not my best performance, but it got the job done. Weight wasn't a big issue. I wanted to go in confident and bring some strength."
231:
selecting him as
Holyfield's first heavyweight opponent. Tillis had formally been a top contender in the heavyweight division, starting his career with a 20–0 record and facing
646:
619:
593:
262:
returned to his corner where referee Steele called for the ringside doctor, whom advised Tillis to not continue, giving
Holyfield the victory by referee technical knockout.
1083:
244:. Though Tillis was considered an underdog against Holyfield, he remained confident he could earn an upset victory and gain a lucrative rematch against Tyson.
1093:
1108:
556:
568:
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got on the ring apron and restrained Tillis against the ropes which incited
Williford who ran across the ring and shoved Duva before referee
210:
was a professional boxing match contested on July 16, 1988. The fight is notable for being
Holyfield's first in the heavyweight division.
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eventually named his first opponent. Holyfield was expected to be a future challenger to then-undisputed heavyweight champion
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Evander
Holyfield, already hailed as Mike Tyson's next serious challenger
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583:, Oklahoman article, 1988-07-18 Retrieved on 2020-02-02
571:, Oklahoman article, 1988-07-10 Retrieved on 2020-02-02
569:
Quick Tillis Back in
Business for a Chance at Tyson
559:, UPI article, 1988-07-15 Retrieved on 2020-02-03
1065:
581:Another TKO: 19-0 Holyfield Hammers Quick Tillis
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1084:April 1988 sports events in the United States
757:
195:Holyfield defeated Tillis via 5th round RTD
1094:Boxing matches involving Evander Holyfield
764:
750:
626:. United Press International. 18 July 1988
218:Evander Holyfield had previously defeated
1109:Boxing matches refereed by Richard Steele
620:"Holyfield has eyes on bout with champ"
1066:
771:
745:
1045:Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Boxing
594:"Holyfield stops Tillis after fifth"
532:"Evander Holyfield vs. James Tillis"
13:
20:Evander Holyfield vs. James Tillis
14:
1120:
134:6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
131:6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
645:Ed Schuyler Jr. (18 July 1988).
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25:
647:"Holyfield sends heavy message"
480:
807:Holyfield vs. Muhammad Qawi II
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638:
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1039:Holyfield's Real Deal Records
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120:25 years, 8 months
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787:Muhammad Qawi vs. Holyfield
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16:Professional Boxing Match
1089:Boxing matches in Nevada
1079:1988 in sports in Nevada
872:Holyfield vs. Stewart II
145:210 lb (95 kg)
142:202 lb (92 kg)
967:Ibragimov vs. Holyfield
912:Holyfield vs. Moorer II
832:Holyfield vs. Rodrigues
942:Ruiz vs. Holyfield III
927:Holyfield vs. Lewis II
907:Holyfield vs. Tyson II
892:Bowe vs. Holyfield III
842:Holyfield vs. McDonagh
179:Cruiserweight Champion
977:Holyfield vs. Belfort
937:Holyfield vs. Ruiz II
877:Bowe vs. Holyfield II
852:Holyfield vs. Foreman
847:Douglas vs. Holyfield
837:Holyfield vs. Stewart
812:Holyfield vs. De León
792:Holyfield vs. Tillman
972:Valuev vs. Holyfield
962:Holyfield vs. Donald
947:Holyfield vs. Rahman
887:Holyfield vs. Mercer
882:Holyfield vs. Moorer
862:Holyfield vs. Holmes
857:Holyfield vs. Cooper
822:Holyfield vs. Thomas
817:Holyfield vs. Tillis
797:Holyfield vs. Parkey
598:The Pittsburgh Press
957:Holyfield vs. Toney
922:Holyfield vs. Lewis
902:Tyson vs. Holyfield
827:Dokes vs. Holyfield
802:Hoyfield vs. Ocasio
21:
1099:Boxing on Showtime
952:Byrd vs. Holyfield
932:Holyfield vs. Ruiz
917:Holyfield vs. Bean
897:Holyfield vs. Czyz
867:Holyfield vs. Bowe
707:vs. Pinklon Thomas
689:vs. Carlos De León
653:. Associated Press
624:Lodi News-Sentinel
452:Super Lightweight
342:Super Lightweight
19:
1104:Stateline, Nevada
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773:Evander Holyfield
740:
739:
730:Succeeded by
704:Succeeded by
696:Evander Holyfield
651:Ocala Star-Banner
515:
514:
478:
477:
356:Clarence Coleman
319:Evander Holyfield
278:Confirmed bouts:
203:Evander Holyfield
199:
198:
185:
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69:Evander Holyfield
50:Stateline, Nevada
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716:vs. Rodney Smith
714:Preceded by
686:Preceded by
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673:"BoxRec - event"
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466:Jesse Madrilles
439:Richard LeFevre
377:John John Molina
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106:Pre-fight record
95:Atlanta, Georgia
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56:Tale of the tape
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1018:Emanuel Steward
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238:Tim Witherspoon
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112:38–14–1 (29 KO)
100:Tulsa, Oklahoma
83:"The Real Deal"
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1074:1988 in boxing
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1023:Ronnie Shields
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600:. 17 July 1988
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459:Billy Martinez
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385:Miguel Medina
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349:Frankie Warren
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259:Richard Steele
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220:Carlos De León
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1003:George Benton
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993:Shelly Finkel
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727:16 July 1988
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701:16 July 1988
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505:United States
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465:
462:
460:
457:
454:
451:
450:
438:
435:
433:
432:Elias Mayorga
430:
427:
425:Middleweight
424:
423:
412:Steve Harvey
411:
408:
406:
405:Randy Johnson
403:
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284:Weight Class
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123:31 years
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46:Caesars Tahoe
44:
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37:July 16, 1988
36:
32:
28:
23:
1052:Raging Bully
1050:
1043:
816:
722:James Tillis
720:
694:
667:
655:. Retrieved
650:
640:
628:. Retrieved
623:
614:
602:. Retrieved
597:
588:
576:
564:
552:
540:. Retrieved
535:
526:
491:Broadcaster
481:Broadcasting
458:
431:
404:
398:Heavyweight
375:
369:Lightweight
348:
328:James Tillis
317:
311:Heavyweight
277:
269:
251:
217:
207:James Tillis
201:
200:
109:18–0 (14 KO)
74:James Tillis
242:Frank Bruno
233:Mike Weaver
161:Recognition
1068:Categories
1013:Don Turner
734:Gary Mason
536:boxrec.com
518:References
274:Fight card
225:Mike Tyson
214:Background
176:undisputed
724:'s bouts
698:'s bouts
657:30 August
630:30 August
604:30 August
542:30 August
266:Aftermath
248:The fight
1008:Lou Duva
998:Don King
538:. BoxRec
510:Showtime
488:Country
401:200+ lb
314:200+ lb
255:Lou Duva
229:Dan Duva
156:Orthodox
153:Orthodox
91:Hometown
80:Nickname
455:140 lb
428:160 lb
372:135 lb
345:140 lb
297:Method
287:Weight
86:"Quick"
780:Fights
502:
306:Notes
300:Round
190:Result
139:Weight
128:Height
1032:Other
463:def.
409:def.
391:8/10
382:def.
353:def.
335:5/10
324:def.
303:Time
150:Style
65:Boxer
42:Venue
986:Team
732:vs.
659:2024
632:2024
606:2024
544:2024
472:4/4
469:TKO
445:4/4
436:def
418:1/6
415:TKO
388:TKO
332:RTD
292:vs.
240:and
205:vs.
171:and
34:Date
442:UD
362:12
359:UD
173:IBF
169:WBC
165:WBA
117:Age
1070::
649:.
622:.
596:.
534:.
167:,
48:,
765:e
758:t
751:v
675:.
661:.
634:.
608:.
546:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
