Evander Holyfield, at 49 years old, says he’s still active and would like to fight for the heavyweight title against one of the Klitschko brothers. (AP)LAS VEGAS — Evander Holyfield is five months shy of his 50th birthday but the former undisputed heavyweight champion still believes he will be thecurrent undisputed heavyweight champion.
“I’d like to fight a Klitschko,” Holyfield said Saturday at ringside during the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto fight. “I want to be a champion. I’ll fight any one of the champions.”
Holyfield has been out of the ring since last May, when he knocked out Brian Nielsen. Holyfield says he is still active and hopes to have a fight before the end of the year. But there’s a catch: He says he will only fight again if it is a title fight.
“If I have to fight somebody else, why fight?” Holyfield said. “I’m only interested in championship fights.”
Holyfield could technically fight for a title without going through one of the Klitschkos. Alexander Povetkin holds the WBA “regular” heavyweight title — the organization bizarrely elevated Wladimir Klitschko to “super champion” shortly after he won the title from David Haye — and rumors persist that Povetkin’s promoter, Sauerland Event, is interested in making a Povetkin-Holyfield fight later in the year.
“At the age of 50, I thought I’d be to be out of the game,” Holyfield said. “I thought I would have accomplished all I wanted to accomplish. But I still want to fight for the title.”
– Chris Mannix http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
Champ, you still can do it!
The Klitschko Brothers are tall and Strong? No matter, you have the Heart – The Heart of a Warrior!
We believe in you – We love you Champ!
Hello Evander,
How are you? Your website is great. Thank you for always being a good guy. You are a great ambassador for the sport of boxing. I’ve been doing some acting lately. Last December I played the lead in an Off-Broadway play called “Kid Shamrock”, about former #1 middleweight contender Bobby Cassidy Sr and written by his son, sports writer Bobby Cassidy Jr.
Michael Bentt directed it and Mark Breland played the part of trainer Jimmy Glenn. It was a cast of mostly boxers. Anyway Evander, I trust you are well and I’m always rooting for you to win back that title. I hope we meet up again soon and have a laugh like we always do. Make sure you bring your mouthpiece! Take care my friend.
Seamus McDonagh
Evander has a great chance of winning one of the titles but it has to be this year’ good luck Evander.
I Have had the “Honor” of meeting Mr. Holyfield. Though in passing I have followed his boxing for as long as I can remember. I come from a very large business family. As we are know world wide. I would place 1MILLION us dollars to help Mr Holyfield fight for a title. I would offer my help and my contacts within the business world. I would Love for him to bring a Boxing title home where it belongs right her in the USA. Please Mr, Holyfield if you really still have the dream PLEASE Bring the dream to life. Please bring the title home to the USA.
Thank you
i hope he doesn’t fight again,he’s got nothing else to prove,hasn’t had anything to prove for years,i’d hate for him to get permanantly injured at this stage of his life.in his day he’d beat both klitchko’s on the same night,now?.i really don’t wish to find out.
hello evander.i was just curios if you’ve ever lost a fight in which you were the bigger (heavier) fighter.i cannot think of any.
All conventional wisdom says that Evander Holyfield should retire! They said he should have retired after losing to Bowe the first time in 1992. They said he had no chance against Tyson in 96. Evander always suprised everyone against the odds. While I might tend to worry for Evander’s health, I know NEVER to underestimate him. If he’s determined to win another title……He WILL!!!
Plus, He’s my favorite Boxer and Athlete of All Time. I’ve always looked up to him as a hero. Especially since he’s always the underdog! His fights are life lessons for me and he’s got the Heart of a Lion!
Would love to meet him and shake his hand some day!
Evander is the man he deserves the shot for the title! Im betting on him to do it. good luck and get er done!!!
I have followed Mr. Holyfield for years. Evander, you should not try for a comeback. Come backs are very rarely what we want them to be.. Please dont do this. It would be a sad ending to a great great legacy.
I think it’s irresponsible for people to encourage Mr. Holyfield to start boxing again. It was irresponsible in 2011, and it’s irresponsible now. To my mind you guys are no different than the people who encouraged an already deteriorating Muhammad Ali to fight Larry Holmes and go way past what he could do. Evander Holyfield has PROVEN himself a great fighter. He has won the title five times. He has weathered some serious stuff. Now, enough!
HOLYFIELD IS BEAST!