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Boxing

Holyfield gets title shot

02/08/2007

Boxing great Evander Holyfield will get a chance to be a world champion again after he was given a shot at Russian Sultan Ibragimov's WBO heavyweight title.

The 44-year-old will step into the ring in October and will be aiming to be a five-time world champion. He won his first title way back in 1990 when he knocked out Buster Douglas.

"This is the first step on my quest to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, and I'm glad Sultan Ibragimov was willing to step up and give me a shot," said Holyfield.

"I'm looking forward to fighting in Moscow for the first time and winning my fifth heavyweight title there."

Holyfield has been awarded this title shot after Ibragimov's original opponent, WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekistan, pulled out due to illness.

Ibragimov said: "Of course I am disappointed that Chagaev pulled out and won't allow me to unify our titles, but fighting a legend like Evander Holyfield is even better.

"And though I respect what he has done in his career, once the bell rings it will be all business because he is trying to take what I have worked so hard for."

If Holyfield was to win he would become the second-oldest heavyweight champion in history, behind George Foreman.

The man known as 'The Real Deal' has had a fantastic career which has seen him beat greats such as Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe.

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