Evander Holyfield has been crowned world heavyweight champion a
record four times but the 44-year-old believes he has yet to fulfil
his destiny.
Holyfield, who made $20 million to defend his title against Mike
Tyson 10 years ago, will be fighting for a fraction of that next
month against journeyman Vinny Maddalone as he looks to write the
perfect last chapter for his career.
"I'm happy to have an opportunity to get back in the ring and
fulfil my destiny," Holyfield told reporters on Tuesday in
announcing his March 17 bout in Corpus Christi, Texas.
"My destiny is to be undisputed champion of the world."
With four world champions in the fractured division, Holyfield
has a mountain to climb to achieve that goal.
But he hopes his showing against Maddalone will bring IBF
champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine, WBC title holder Oleg
Maskaev of Kazakhstan, WBA holder Nicolai Valuev of Russia or
American WBO champion Shannon Briggs calling.
"It don't make no difference who's first," Holyfield said.
"The first one who gives me an opportunity, the first one who
wants to make a lot of money. The only way they can make some money
is to fight somebody who can draw."
Ear biting
Holyfield said he was already financially secure and that his
love of the fight game was what had drawn him back.
"My choice is to live life to the fullest," said Holyfield, who
has defeated 16 world champions in a professional career he began
in 1984.
"I love the game of boxing. I set this goal back in 1992 after I
lost against Riddick Bowe."
Holyfield became undisputed champion by stopping Buster Douglas
in three rounds in 1990.
After he was outpointed by Bowe two years later, Holyfield went
on to win the title three more times - including his 11th-round
stoppage of Tyson in 1996 for the WBA crown. He defended it in a
rematch the next year in which Tyson infamously bit off a chunk of
his right ear.
But Holyfield, who has a career record of 40-8-2, never again
held all the crowns at once.
Since he lost a 12-round decision to Britain's Lennox Lewis for
the undisputed heavyweight championship in November 1999, his
record is 4-5-1 including two wins over little-known fighters in
his comeback.
"I'm not injured, I'm going to surprise people," said Holyfield,
who was recently appointed to the state of Georgia's Commission on
Men's Health.
"By 2008 I know I'll be undisputed heavyweight champion."
Maddalone, 28, is a brawler with a history of cuts. His 27-3
record includes 19 wins within the distance.
Trainer Al Certo said Maddalone would be looking to trade with
Holyfield.
"He's had about 500 stitches in his career so far," he
added.
"You won't have to look for Vinny. He'll be there, breathing
down your throat."
(China Daily via Agencies March 2, 2007)