Evander Holyfield is returning to the ring at age 46 because he wants to become undisputed heavyweight champion again. Holyfield will fight 7-foot (2.13 meters) WBA champion Nikolai Valuev next month, aiming to become the oldest man to claim a world heavyweight title and the first to win it five times. “My goal is to be undisputed champion not just to win one title,” Holyfield said at a news conference Tuesday at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, where the fight will take place on Dec. 20. “I think people make too much about age,” he said. “I haven't fought in a year but I will be ready.” Holfyield underwent five hours of medical tests in Germany on Monday to show he was ready for the physical challenge of facing the Russian champion, who is likely to take a 100-pound (45 kilogram) advantage into the ring. Holyfield, who had his license to box in New York state revoked three years ago, said he could do no more to reassure people worried about his health. “They will have to see the fight and know for themselves,” he said. “I have taken care of myself and if I couldn't fight then I wouldn't fight.” Holyfield said he never expected to be “the old guy” in the ring, recalling that his first defense after becoming undisputed champion in 1990 was a points victory against 42-year-old George Foreman. “I didn't want to fight him,” Holyfield said. “My manager said he (Foreman) earned his shot so do it. I did and it was a tough fight.” Holyfield has reunited with trainer Tommy Brooks and his first professional manager, Ken Sanders, to try to regain the WBA title he last lost in 2000 to John Ruiz. Sanders said the fighter's publicized financial problems were solved and he was coming back for a title shot rather than the money. “If it was not a championship fight we would not have taken it,” Sanders said. “And there is no doubt in my mind he is going to win.” Holyfield is expected to earn between $750,000 and $1m for fighting Valuev, with bigger purses waiting for unification fights.
