Ricky Parkey is an American former professional boxer from Morristown, Tennessee….who turned pro in 1981 and won the IBF Cruiserweight Title with a TKO win over Lee Roy Murphy in 1986. He defended the belt once before losing the title to Evander Holyfield via TKO the following year in a title unification bout….retiring in 1994.
Evander Holyfield is an American former professional boxer….who held the undisputed world championship in both the cruiserweight / light heavyweight division and heavyweight division….one of only three men in history to do so including Michael Spinks and Michael Moorer….as this accomplishment earned him the nickname “The Real Deal“. He is the only four-time world heavyweight champion….having won the WBA, WBC, IBF and lineal titles in 1990….the WBA, IBF and lineal titles again in 1993….the WBC and IBF titles in 1996…. the WBA title for a fourth time in 2000.
As an amateur, Holyfield represented the United States at the 1984 Olympics….winning a bronze medal in the light heavyweight division. He turned professional at the age of 21….moving up to cruiserweight / light heavyweight in 1985….winning his first world championship the following year….when he defeated Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBA title. Holyfield then went on to defeat Ricky Parkey and Carlos de León to win the WBC, IBF and lineal titles….thus becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion.
