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NEW YORK - Evander Holyfield has been crowned world heavyweight boxing champion a record four times but the 44-year-old believes he has yet to fulfil his destiny.
Holyfield, who was paid US$20 million ($29 million) to defend his title against Mike Tyson 10 years ago, will be fighting for a fraction of that 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 said 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 way to go 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."
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."
- REUTERS
