---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Opponents make an excuse as to why they…"
description: "\"Opponents make an excuse as to why they do not want to fight someone. Who are the people you actually make a big payday fighting against? There are not..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/evander-holyfield-12330_excuse_opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they_1531516.jpg"
---

#  Opponents make an excuse as to why they do not want to…

![“Opponents make an excuse as to why they do not want to fight someone. Who are the people you actually make a big payday fighting against? There are not too many people out there. Most people refuse to fight people that are necessary. They think winning is the only thing to do. It is not winning if…” quote by Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/evander-holyfield-12330_excuse_opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they_1531516.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/evander-holyfield-12330_excuse_opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they_1531516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/evander-holyfield-12330_excuse_opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they_1531516.jpg)

> “Opponents make an excuse as to why they do not want to fight someone. Who are the people you actually make a big payday fighting against? There are not too many people out there. Most people refuse to fight people that are necessary. They think winning is the only thing to do. It is not winning if you have not fought the best.”

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True growth comes from confronting the strongest challenges; avoiding easy fights limits development, and real success requires testing oneself against the best.

**In simple terms:** Face the toughest opponents to improve.

Key Takeaway

Seek out demanding challenges.

Themes

challenge growth competition

Mood

determined intense

Type

inspirational motivational

When to use this quote

- sports
- career advancement
- skill mastery
- creative projects

Key Concepts

self‑improvement risk taking

Questions to Reflect On

- What “best” opponent are you avoiding?
- How can you prepare for high‑stakes challenges?

A Different Perspective

May lead to burnout if not balanced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/)

## Related quotes

> [I grew up being very different and being ready to fight people. I wanted to stand up for myself, and I wanted to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kali-uchis/i-grew-up-being-very-different-and-being-ready-to-fight-people-i/)

[Kali Uchis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kali-uchis/)

> [When you refuse to fight guys because you say you are better than them, that is not really being the best. If I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/when-you-refuse-to-fight-guys-because-you-say-you-are-better-than/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [You want to fight people that have heaps of momentum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hooker/you-want-to-fight-people-that-have-heaps-of-momentum/)

[Dan Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hooker/)

> [You want to fight people that get you excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hooker/you-want-to-fight-people-that-get-you-excited/)

[Dan Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hooker/)

> [I will be O.K. without football. I want to fight for the people who won't be O.K.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-rosen/i-will-be-o-k-without-football-i-want-to-fight-for-the-people-who-won/)

[Josh Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-rosen/)

> [I don't like to see people using their power over others, trying to hurt people who are weak or poor or people with darker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kali-uchis/i-don-t-like-to-see-people-using-their-power-over-others-trying-to/)

[Kali Uchis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kali-uchis/)

> [I can't say 'OK, let's begin to exchange and see where it goes.' We want to give a fight and give people a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyoto-machida/i-can-t-say-ok-let-s-begin-to-exchange-and-see-where-it-goes-we-want/)

[Lyoto Machida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyoto-machida/)

> [As a challenger, I need and want to fight some people because that would give me the opportunity to get to the title shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ngannou/as-a-challenger-i-need-and-want-to-fight-some-people-because-that/)

[Francis Ngannou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ngannou/)

> [Really, the only people that do want to fight me are the people that haven't been in there with me yet. It's a dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/really-the-only-people-that-do-want-to-fight-me-are-the-people-that/)

[Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/)

> [If we want to fight people in the world, we should fight them with pillows - pillows stuffed with food, medicine, music... That would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/if-we-want-to-fight-people-in-the-world-we-should-fight-them-with/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [I've come to UFC because they'll give me the fight I want, the fight people want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-toney/i-ve-come-to-ufc-because-they-ll-give-me-the-fight-i-want-the-fight/)

[James Toney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-toney/)

> [War will cease when men refuse to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-will-cease-when-men-refuse-to-fight/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The promotions put fighters against each other, and they don't want to pay anything to them. If you refuse to fight, the promoter shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanderlei-silva/the-promotions-put-fighters-against-each-other-and-they-don-t-want-to/)

[Wanderlei Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanderlei-silva/)

> [We seem to have lost. We have not lost. To refuse to fight would have been to lose; to fight is to win. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-pearse/we-seem-to-have-lost-we-have-not-lost-to-refuse-to-fight-would-have/)

[Patrick Pearse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-pearse/)

> [There's 2 types of people. People that fight for what they want and people that want everything but refuse to fight for it. Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/there-s-2-types-of-people-people-that-fight-for-what-they-want-and/)

[Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/)

## More by Evander Holyfield

> [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [I'm just one woman away, my mother, from being the same as Mike Tyson. I would've ended up like him if my mama had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-m-just-one-woman-away-my-mother-from-being-the-same-as-mike-tyson-i/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [“It's not the size of the man, but the size of his heart that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/it-s-not-the-size-of-the-man-but-the-size-of-his-heart-that-matters/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [Well, number one I like dancing. Number two I knew it would be challenging because I had never done this type of dance before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/well-number-one-i-like-dancing-number-two-i-knew-it-would-be/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [When at a young age you learn to face your fears, that makes the difference between people being champions and people not being champions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/when-at-a-young-age-you-learn-to-face-your-fears-that-makes-the/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [The cat and mouse game is smart, but people want to see fighters who come to win, or do not wait to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-cat-and-mouse-game-is-smart-but-people-want-to-see-fighters-who/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [A sight game is that I am hurt, but I aim to make you believe I am not even hurt, and with this confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/a-sight-game-is-that-i-am-hurt-but-i-aim-to-make-you-believe-i-am-not/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [Sugar leaves you stranded; I make sure I have the proper amount of protein before I work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/sugar-leaves-you-stranded-i-make-sure-i-have-the-proper-amount-of/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [A boxing match is hard because boxing isn't set for you to do good. You have to force your will upon someone, but dancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/a-boxing-match-is-hard-because-boxing-isn-t-set-for-you-to-do-good/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [The main thing about Bruce Lee is that, he was a little guy. And you know, his quickness, his aggressiveness, his explosive power, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-main-thing-about-bruce-lee-is-that-he-was-a-little-guy-and-you/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [Either I believe I can be the best heavyweight fighter in the world and beat everyone, or I will not. I feel I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/either-i-believe-i-can-be-the-best-heavyweight-fighter-in-the-world/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [I have to have an adjustment before I go into the ring. I do believe in chiropractic. I found that going to a chiropractor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-have-to-have-an-adjustment-before-i-go-into-the-ring-i-do-believe/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [I've had a great life following my faith and my instincts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-ve-had-a-great-life-following-my-faith-and-my-instincts/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [That's the biggest problem with boxing in the United States. They do not promote it like they used to, when it used to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/that-s-the-biggest-problem-with-boxing-in-the-united-states-they-do/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

> [Odds are just the people opinion. Respect your own opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/odds-are-just-the-people-opinion-respect-your-own-opinion/)

[Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

[Explore all 55 Evander Holyfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/)

## More Excuse quotes

> [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/)

[Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/)

[Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/)

> [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/)

[Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/)

> [International friendly games are not worth the lives of the silk worms who perish to make the pennants. They do not even have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/international-friendly-games-are-not-worth-the-lives-of-the-silk/)

[Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/)

> [Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/win-without-boasting-lose-without-excuse/)

[Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/)

> [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/)

[Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/)

> [Dont leave without a reason, and then try to come back with an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-leave-without-a-reason-and-then-try-to-come-back-with-an-excuse/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Using, as an excuse, others' failure of common sense is in itself a failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/using-as-an-excuse-others-failure-of-common-sense-is-in-itself-a/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/)

[Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/)

> [I'm not the guy who will sit in a room with somebody who's using a bunch of big words and just act like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-m-not-the-guy-who-will-sit-in-a-room-with-somebody-who-s-using-a/)

[Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/)

> [Worst Break Up Excuse; 'You deserve so much better.' Translation: They've already moved on whether you like it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worst-break-up-excuse-you-deserve-so-much-better-translation-they-ve/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A lie is an excuse guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-lie-is-an-excuse-guarded/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [Live with No Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyanendra/live-with-no-excuse/)

[Gyanendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyanendra/)

Browse all 2,435 Excuse quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Opponents make an excuse as to why they do not want to fight someone. Who are the people you actually make a big payday fighting against? There are not too many people out there. Most people refuse to fight people that are necessary. They think winning is the only thing to do. It is not winning if you have not fought the best.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Evander Holyfield"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they-do-not-want-to-fight-someone/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Excuse"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they-do-not-want-to-fight-someone/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/evander-holyfield-12330_excuse_opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they_1531516.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/evander-holyfield-12330_excuse_opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they_1531516.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/evander-holyfield-12330_excuse_opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they_1531516.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Opponents make an excuse as to why they do not want to fight someone. Who are the people you actually make a…” — Evander Holyfield",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Evander Holyfield",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Opponents make an excuse as to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they-do-not-want-to-fight-someone/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/opponents-make-an-excuse-as-to-why-they-do-not-want-to-fight-someone/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
