DALLAS, 19 August 2006 — Evander Holyfield is heading back into the ring Friday night, ready to start yet another comeback.
Driven by two powerful memories and a clean bill of health, Holyfield is confident it will end with the only four-time heavyweight champion becoming the first five-timer — and the undisputed champ.
He’s even set a target date for his final triumph: the Beijing Olympics, which begin in August 2008.
“I realize I am supposed to retire on top and I know that I can,” Holyfield said. “Everything they told me I couldn’t do previously, I did it.” The list of doubts that Holyfield has overcome in his career are impressive. But save those for a career retrospective.
Up first is his fight against Jeremy Bates, an insurance salesman who’d retired with a 21-11 record with two draws until Holyfield called.
Holyfield is 43 and has won only one of his last six fights. He hasn’t fought in 21 months, partly because his last loss was so bad that New York officials revoke his license, citing “diminished skills and poor performance.” Holyfield had no problem getting a license in Texas. He looks to be in tremendous shape, weighing in Thursday at 100 kilos (220 pounds).
Bates — who is about 13 centimeters (five inches) shorter than Holyfield and has a shaven head with a goatee — came in at 102 kilos (225 1/2 pounds).
The fight is the first in what’s being billed as “Holyfield V, The Final Chapter.” Holyfield is so sure this isn’t a one-shot deal that he’s already lined up the next bout, against a ranked foe. He declined to name the opponent out of respect to Bates.
“This is just to let people know that I can fight,” Holyfield said. “All the other fights are going to lead me to a title fight.” He plans to have a title fight in 2007 and to have all the belts around his waist, “by the time that Olympics comes.” “When they put out the flame, I’ll be retired,” he said.
“Maybe right there in Beijing.” It could happen sooner, he figures, if some of the other heavyweights can scoop up multiple belts; the four significant belts are currently held by different boxers.
Holyfield believes he’ll vault past other contenders because of his marketability.
“People are going to say, `Can he do it?’ That’s going to bring interest,” he said. “If I just beat one of them guys, everybody will go crazy.”
He knows that from experience.
Holyfield was 29 and in his prime when he fought 42-year-old George Foreman. Although Holyfield won every scorecard, Foreman won everyone’s heart. He also ended up becoming a heavyweight champ again when he was 45.
That memory inspires Holyfield, but the one that pushes him more is a vow he made to himself to again become the undisputed heavyweight champion, a label he held from 1990-92.
