Mitt Romney Vs. Evander Holyfield
Former Massachusetts Governor and two-time presidential candidate Mitt Romney (L) and five-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield stared down each other during their weigh-in before their boxing match in Holladay, Utah, May 14, 2015. Reuters

This is not a drill. Former Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney and former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield are actually going to face off against each other Friday in Salt Lake City, Utah in a boxing match. Luckily for Romney, the “fight” is a charity event, held in support of Charity Vision, a Utah nonprofit that combats blindness in developing countries around the world.

The politician and the heavyweight champion met Thursday for their official weigh-in. Holyfield, 52, weighed in at 236 pounds. Romney, who, at 68, is more than a few years past his fighting prime, tipped the scales at 179 pounds.

“To have a man like Evander Holyfield come here, the heavyweight champion of the world time and time again, someone who our kids can look up to…This is a good man, a religious man. He’s got 11 kids of his own and he’s here to help cure blindness throughout the world to the extent that it can be done,” Romney said at the weigh-in.

The three-round match will raise an estimated $1 million for Charity Vision, CBS News reported. That money will be used to buy much-needed medical equipment, to train medical personnel and to pay for surgeries and eye examinations.

Romney has joked on several occasions about what his actual chances would be in a fight against Holyfield, who once went toe-to-toe with Mike Tyson in the boxing ring. But that didn’t stop Romney from participating in a deadpanned “promo video” to tout the charity match.

“You’ve heard my critics say that I’m out of touch, that I’m stiff, that I just don’t relate to people,” Romney joked in the video, which also contained footage of the former Massachusetts governor’s “grueling” fight preparation. “For years, I’ve been listening to garbage like that. And I decided to fight back.”

Holyfield fired back with his own humorous declaration. “I train every day for people a lot tougher than Mitt Romney. Does he even work out?” he said.

Romney was a bit more realistic in an interview with the New York Times Magazine’s Mark Leibovich. He joked about using in-ring compliments to keep Holyfield “very friendly.” He also made reference to the infamous 1997 incident in which Tyson bit off part of Holyfield’s ear during a match.

“I’m staying far away from his ears,” Romney said. “I don’t for a moment want him to confuse me with anyone from his past.”

Here’s a look at the “tale of the tape” for Romney and Holyfield’s long-awaited confrontation.

Evander Holyfield

Age: 52

Weight: 236 pounds

Professional boxing record: 44-10-2 (29 knockouts)

Most famous fight: Defeated Tyson by disqualification in 1997 to retain his WBA Heavyweight title after Tyson bit his ear.

Other accomplishments: Former WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion of the world, with wins over Tyson, Riddick Bowe, Larry Holmes, George Foreman and Buster Douglas.

Most infamous moment: The Bite Fight, for sure.

Mitt Romney

Age: 68

Weight: 179 pounds

Professional boxing record: 0-0 (0 KO’s)

Most famous fight: Romney was the Republican Party’s 2012 Presidential nominee. He lost to current President Barack Obama.

Other accomplishments: Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, CEO and President of Salt Lake City’s winning bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics, successful businessman.

Most infamous moment: Sang “Who Let The Dogs Out?” by the Baha Men at a 2008 event in Jacksonville, Florida.

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