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Holyfield geared for comeback bout

18/08/2006

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield tonight returns to the boxing ring as he mounts yet another comeback at the ripe old age of 43.

The Real Deal, who first won a world title 16 years ago, fights fellow American journeyman Jeremy 'The Beast' Bates at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas.

It will be Holyfield's first fight since his loss to Larry Donald in November 2004 and will come on the back of three straight defeats.

Indeed his last victory came in the WBA heavyweight title eliminator against Hasim Rahman over four years ago but he is determined he can be a major force once again.

"I am supposed to retire on top and I know that I can," he said. "This bout is just to let people know that I can fight.

"If everything goes right, I'll fight once or twice more this year and then fight another three or four times next year and by the end of next year I'll get a title shot."

Pundits argue Holyfield's legacy of a four-time world champion is being continually threatened by his repeated comeback attempts.

But the man who sensationally had his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson in one of the most acrimonious fights in boxing history in 1997 insists he will silence his doubters.

"I'm fighting in Dallas and people will get a chance to see a four-time heavyweight champion," Holyfield said.

"And I'm going to be five-times soon. This is the cheapest they'll see me. When I go to Vegas the tickets will be $1,500, and when it sells out, the scalpers will be getting $5,000. So see me now while it's cheap."

His opponent tonight, 32-year-old Bates, has an unimpressive record of 21 wins, 18 kos, 11 defeats and one draw from his 33 fights and has said this will be his final match before retiring.

The odds are stacked heavily against him but an upset win, while writing him into the memory books if not the record books, would almost certainly bring the curtain down finally for Holyfield.

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