Evander Holyfield’s wife, Candi Calvana Smith Holyfield, is seeking a temporary protective order against her husband after accusing the boxing legend of regularly beating her.
Candi says Evander’s abuse began six months into their marriage, when she was pregnant with the couple’s first child nearly six years ago. The couple wed on Candi’s 24th birthday, July 1, 2003, and have two children, ages 6 and 4.) Now 30, Candi’s had enough of the alleged battery and is asking an Atlanta court to keep Evander away from her.
The Atlanta Constitution-Journal writes: “…Candi Holyfield accuses her husband of hitting her in the face, the back of her head, and on her back during the middle of the night, according to the petition for temporary protective order…”
Candi claims that during a verbal spat last week Holyfield urged her to “put god first in her life” before striking her in the face. In the restraining order, she also clams that Holyfield has been physical with her in the presence of the couple’s young children:
“In 2008 he choked me in front of our daughter and house keeper. In 2009 he has hit me in front of the children. He has grabbed me in front of the children. A couple of weeks ago he threw a bottle of water at me.”