Holyfield shuns talk of retirement

EVANDER HOLYFIELD has shoved thoughts of retirement to the back of his mind as he prepares to prolong his extraordinary career in Las Vegas tonight.

Holyfield 41 this month believes victory over cruiserweight James Toney in their non-title contest will thrust him back into the reckoning for a third crack at Lennox Lewis.

'The Real Deal' has been urged to retire ever since his defeat by Michael Moorer in 1994 were blamed on heart problems.

But Holyfield insists he has proved people wrong throughout his career and will continue to do so for as long as he sees fit.

"My whole life people have wanted to retire me," said Holyfield.

"They have said I am no good, they have said I am too small. But that is all just talk.

"The most important thing for me is not my age. It is that I have taken good care of myself.

"I cannot stay idle hoping Chris Byrd, Lennox Lewis or Roy Jones will fight me. I am going to continue to fight as long as I feel I can at the highest level."

Holyfield, who has never been stopped in his 46-fight career, does not have a lot to gain from fighting Toney.

His opponent is the former middleweight king who spectacularly reignited his career in April by claiming the IBF cruiserweight title from Vassily Jirov.

Now Toney wants to emulate his former super-middleweight rival Roy Jones who handed him his first defeat in 1994 and prove he can cut it with the big boys at the age of 34.

"I am done talking and now I am ready to go to war," said Toney, who insists he will fight toe-to-toe with his bigger opponent.

"I guarantee I am not losing. I am going to retire Evander. I am going to be in front of him all night," he said.

Holyfield has reinvented himself many times but will have few places left to turn if he is beaten by Toney.

His last five fights have been scrappy affairs with three dull bouts with the now discredited John Ruiz followed by a controversial win over Hasim Rahman when Rahman sustained severe swelling around the eye, and a points defeat by Chris Byrd.

But with his remarkable reputation and Toney's attacking ambition it promises to be a cracking fight which Toney might just shade to provide heavyweight boxing with the breath of fresh air it so badly needs.