A decade after his infamous "Bite Fight" victory over Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield still dreams of retaking boxing's heavyweight throne and considers most reigning champions "beatable."
The 44-year-old US veteran will fight 41-year-old American Lou Savarese in a 10-round affair in El Paso today.
He is seeking his fourth victory in a row since making a comeback after being banished by New York officials following a loss.
Thursday marked 10 years to the day since Holyfield kept his World Boxing Association title with a third-round disqualification victory after Tyson bit off a chunk of Holyfield's ear.
forgiven
"The proudest thing of that moment is how I handled it," Holyfield told ESPN. "I forgave Mike Tyson for what he did. When the heat is up anything can happen. I put it behind me. I've seen him at a few events. We acknowledge each other."
Tyson, who turns 41 today, has been retired since losing to Irishman Kevin McBride two years ago.
Tyson, 50-6 with 44 knockouts, fought a four-round exhibition last October but the world tour it was to have launched never came. His only upcoming date is an August trial in Arizona on drug possession charges.
"I wouldn't [fight Tyson again] because he wouldn't have a title," Holyfield said. "My goal is to fight the people who have the belts."
Those are Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko, the International Boxing Federation champion, plus Kazakh-born World Boxing Council champion Oleg Maskaev and the WBA champion, Uzbekhistan's unbeaten Ruslan Chagaev.
"I'm looking for anybody who thinks they can beat an old guy," Holyfield said. "Each time one of these guys fights, if it's available, I'm watching it."
beatable bunch
"Klitschko, I believe he's the most talented one of the bunch. The others, they have got a lot of heart. They come in and give their all ... The thing is, they are beatable," he said.
Holyfield, 41-8 with two drawn and 27 knockouts, has reduced his running in training camp to spare his legs the strain but otherwise holds himself to his standards of younger days and says he is able to fight for a title anytime.
"I'm ready now," he said. "I judge my training program. I watch tapes of myself each and every day to see if I'm able to do what I used to do."
Right now I'm able to do the little things. I'm looking forward to putting on a good show Saturday," Holyfield said.
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