FORMER CHAMP HAS FAITH GOD HAS HEALED HIS HEART. BARELY TOUCHED, BOXER EVANDER HOLYFIELD WENT DOWN, NOT TO THE CANVAS OF THE RING, BUT TO THE STAGE BEFORE 9,000 CHRISTIANS.

Newspaper June 12, 1994 | Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)

Author: Ralph Cipriano, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER | Page: B01 | Section: LOCAL

“Toucccchhh,” the faith healer yelled, as he laid hands on Evander Holyfield.The former heavyweight champ, who had to retire from the ring because of what doctors described as a stiff heart, closed his eyes and collapsed in the arms of an usher. Then Holyfield, who was wearing an expensive olive suit, was laid out flat on his back on the stage of the Civic Center.”The Lord is telling me right now He is repairing Holyfield’s heart completely,” faith healer Benny Hinn told 9,000 cheering Christians.

After the service, Holyfield, a born-again Christian, said that he had felt ”a warm feeling” go through his chest, and that he believed his heart was healed. He said he planned to return to the ring and seek the heavyweight title for a record third time.

“I was searching for a reason to come back, but the right reason,” Holyfield said. “I know I can go back and win, but win for the Lord. I’m healed.”

Hinn routinely advised all those who say they were healed at his sessions to return to their doctors for checkups.

Holyfield, 31, of Atlanta, sat up on stage during all three services at the Civic Center last week that were led by Hinn, the 5-foot, 7-inch faith healer

from Orlando, Fla. During one of the services, Holyfield agreed to pay $265,000 to underwrite the costs of the crusade, which drew a total of 23,000 people.

“God has blessed me, blessed me well,” he said, explaining the gift. Holyfield said he came from a family of eight that had “nothing but the Holy Spirit.”

“Like the Bible says, seek the Lord God first and everything will be added,” Holyfield said. “So I seek the Lord God first and all my wealth came. It’s not mine, it’s His anyway. So I’m blessed to be able to give back what He has given me . . . to help the ministry . . . that’s what it’s all about.”

Holyfield retired in April days after he lost a 12-round upset decision to left-handed heavyweight Michael Moorer. During the fight, Holyfield had severe pain in his shoulder and appeared to visibly age about 10 years, according to ringside observers.

He was hospitalized after the fight and doctors determined the boxer had a ”noncompliant left ventricle.” The condition meant that Holyfield’s heart does not fill up normally with blood, depriving the body of oxygen and causing severe fatigue. It also meant that during the fight, while Holyfieldabsorbed more than 340 punches, he fought through heart failure, doctors said.

On Thursday night at the Civic Center, the 218-pound Holyfield with the famous V-shaped toroso collapsed twice on stage, “slain in the Spirit,” as the believers put it.

On Friday night, Holyfield collapsed three more times, and spent much of the last hour of the four-hour service either lying on his back or face-down on the stage.

The time he went down and felt the warmth in his heart, Hinn grasped Holyfield lightly by the chin. Later he waved his arms at him, and knocked him over.

“I was still conscious, mind-wise,” Holyfield said. “When I was slain, it was just me thanking the Lord. . . . I was just so happy. Felt His presence.”

When Holyfield agreed to donate $265,000 to the ministry, Hinn prayed that God would return the blessing, and enable the boxer to earn $200 million.

“Lord give him another bonus,” the man in the white double-breasted suit said. “Give him a wife.”

Hinn said that Holyfield’s future wife would be found from among those “in this service this morning,” and he needed one because “he’s got five children that need a mother.”

Hinn also offered to officiate at the wedding.