Evander Holyfield is guilty of hitting his wife several times, according to her recent police report, and she got a temporary protective order against him. He has not been charged, however, and police have been silent as to whether there is an ongoing criminal investigation. She claims that the boxer hit her in the face, head and back after she would not produce check stubs from church donations. Apparently, he was worried that she was not giving money to the church.

Mr. Holyfield, according to the order, is not to be within 500 yards of Mrs. Holyfield, 30 years of age, and their 6 year-old son and 5 year-old daughter, until a February 18th hearing. His third wife, Mrs. Holyfield states that emotional abuse started soon after their marriage, and that emotional and physical abuse have been escalating since then. Publicly, however, they remain steadfastly devoted to each other and their marriage.

In New Jersey, domestic violence is one person's attempt to control another via harmful acts, be they physical, sexual, emotional or verbal, with whom he or she has had a "dating" relationship, though it could be a parent or caretaker. So those who are or were dating, are or were married, have shared or share living quarters fall under the requirements. "Harmful" could include criminal acts from false imprisonment to stalking to criminal trespass. To get a "TRO" or protective order, an alleged victim files a complaint with the family division of Superior Court, where a judge will consider the history of domestic violence, whether or not the victim is in immediate danger, and what measures will sufficiently protect him or her. This is a civil legal action, but a criminal complaint may be filed as well, and once a TRO is filed the alleged abuser can be held in criminal contempt for violating it. Because it is temporary, a TRO is fairly easily obtained from the Court.

A hearing is held ten days later for the judge to determine if a final restraining order, or FRO, is warranted, and for how long. At a final hearing, both parties may speak, and offer evidence and question witnesses on the record. Therefore, of course, it is important to have the aid of an attorney if at all possible, in order to protect your rights. The boxer may be trying to exercise control over Mrs. Holyfield, and their money, and at the time of filing she had a problem with it. She claimed that he choked her in front of their daughter and that he hit her in front of their children. Later, she released a statement saying that Mr. Holyfield "has many qualities and characteristics that [she] admires and respects. We are all human." Of course, the legal system will be there for her should she determine that such behavior towards herself and around her children is not human.