Washington, D.C. — Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will fight a historic exhibition match in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on July 25. Holyfield’s opponent will be Sammy Retta, an Ethiopian-born American who moved from Addis to Washington D.C. when he was 16.   

“I continue to strive to be the very best and I look forward to bringing it all to Ethiopia,” Holyfield told reporters according to Africa News.
“I feel so tremendous,” said Retta, as a recent news conference. “Fighting Evander is like Ali fighting in Africa.” Retta has a 18-3 professional record and was quoted at his news conference. 

This boxing event will be the largest of its kind in Africa since 1974’s “Rumble in the Jungle” match between Muhammad Ali and George Forman in Zaire.  The historical “Rumble in the Jungle” helped paved the way for American athletes and the sport of boxing to gain worldwide fame in the 70’s.  The Ethiopian boxing match will hope to accomplish similar cultural and sporting achievements and help to increase tourism into Ethiopia.  

Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines Journeys is offering exclusive travel packages for boxing fans to attend the boxing exhibition explore Ethiopia. More info., please, check with the airline.
Holyfield is best remembered for having his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson in 1997 in a match which was later became known as the "The Bite Fight". It also became the beginning sign of Mike Tyson’s popularity.

The fight would rank as one of the highest-profile all-American boxing bouts on African soil since the legendary 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" that pitted Muhammad Ali against Joe Frazier in the former Zaire, AFP says.
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Photo: courtesy of tadias.com