Holyfield not ready to quit yet
Associated Press
10/28/2003

Evander Holyfield isn't ready to quit yet.

The 41-year-old former heavyweight champion says he'll fight on, despite taking a beating from James Toney earlier this month.

In a letter to his fans posted on his Web site, Holyfield said he just had a bad night against Toney and still has a goal of winning the heavyweight title for a fifth time.

"I appreciate very much the concern I know my team has for me and the advice from boxing writers and the public, but I want everyone to understand one thing,'' Holyfield wrote. "This is my decision to make. This is my life and I will not allow anyone else to make this decision for me.''

Holyfield, who has won only two of his last eight fights, took a beating from Toney on Oct. 4 before his corner finally threw in the towel in the ninth round. Toney beat him to the punch almost every time, and Holyfield admitted afterward he couldn't seem to throw punches even when he saw openings.

Even so, Holyfield said, it's nothing that he can't overcome with some work in the gym.

"I realize some so-called boxing experts are saying that my reactions have slowed and there is nothing I can do to improve my performance, but there are definitely things I can do to improve,'' Holyfield said.

Holyfield's manager, Jim Thomas, said the boxer still has a chance to win the heavyweight title but conceded many feel he is washed-up.

"It may take a great performance in his next fight to wipe out the Toney performance in people's minds,'' Thomas said. "But he's a very beloved champion and he'll have a certain number of people who will follow him whenever he fights.''

If Holyfield fights again, it likely won't be for the kind of money he's used to making. He had a $5-million fight minimum, but the pay-per-view for the Toney fight sold poorly, and Holyfield's appeal dropped even further with his showing.

Still, there might be one big money fight left even for a faded fighter like Holyfield appears to be. That would be a third fight against Mike Tyson, whose financial problems may force him to look at a Holyfield fight as a way of getting out of $27 million in debt.

"That's definitely a possibility,'' Thomas said.

Nevada boxing executive director Marc Ratner said if Holyfield wanted to fight again in the state he would likely have to go before the state's boxing commission for approval.

"It would be a medical decision based on the advice of our doctors,'' Ratner said.

he needs to retire....he got the money n he got a heart problem....whats the point?!

Someone should show Holyfield a tape of him talking in 1988 and a tape of him talking now. Pretty soon you'll need subtitles for when Evander talks.

It's sad that all great champs can't seem to hang it up. All of them fight beyond their prime, from Ali, to Floyd Patterson, to Larry Holmes and now Holyfield. It's sad to see, and I'll almost cry when I see Holyfield in the same state as all the other greats.