Evander Holyfield's Wife Says He Beat Her

Candi Holyfield, the third wife of boxing great Evander Holyfield, has filed for a protective order against her husband, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

She says Evander's abuse began six months into their marriage, when she was pregnant with the couple's first child. (They were on Candi's 24th birthday, July 1, 2003; they have two children, ages 6 and 4.) Now 30, Candi has had enough and is asking an Atlanta court to step in and referee.

According to documents filed last week in Fayette County Superior Court, Candi Holyfield accuses her husband of a violent act against her in the presence of the couple's two children. The petition for a protective order was posted on www.radaronline.com. The file number for the court filing matches a filing found on Fayette court's Web site.

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.

"He got up and turned the light on and started looking at my face and told me he was sorry, that he knew he shouldn't have done that," Candi Holyfield stated in the petition.

The incident allegedly began because the heat was cut off in the couple's home, and Candi Holyfield attempted to discuss it with her husband.

"He told me that I was only thinking about myself," Candi Holyfield stated. "He started telling me that I needed to start putting God first in my life."

Evander Holyfield, 47, hung up on a reporter when reached by telephone Wednesday afternoon. Candi Holyfield could not be reached for comment.

"At first it was mainly emotional," Candi Holyfield states in the petition. "There was incidents where he had pushed or grabbed me but it has escalated since 2008."

In 2008, Evander Holyfield allegedly choked his wife in front of the couple's daughter and housekeeper, Candi Holyfield stated in the petition. Last year, Candi Holyfield said, her husband hit her in front of the couple's children.

Candi Holyfield asked that her husband not be allowed within 500 yards of her, and that he have no contact with the couple's two children, according to the court documents. She also requests use of a Porsche Cayenne and a Mercedes Benz.

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