Buccaneer
03-18-2007, 09:24 AM
Four-time champion continues comeback with third-round TKO.
Evander Holyfield is willing to wait for a shot at yet another world title.
The only four-time heavyweight champion hopes the chance comes sooner rather than later.
The 44-year-old continued his comeback Saturday night by scoring a technical knockout over Vinny Maddalone at the American Bank Center. An accidental clash of heads opened a gash down the middle of Maddalone's forehead midway through the first round, one of several reasons why the journeyman's corner signaled referee Ruben Carrion to stop the fight at 2:48 of the third.
Holyfield took two years off from the Sweet Science to allow injures to both shoulders heal. His third straight victory since the layoff, Holyfield hopes it shortens the road to a possible title fight.
"I'm ready for a shot right now," said Holyfield, who improved to 41-8-2 with 27 knockouts.
Holyfield plans to fight again in late June or early July, but isn't sure against who or where. Since most belt holders are training for mandatory defenses, he plans on keeping himself occupied the only way he knows how.
"I'm just going to continue to practice my craft," Holyfield said. "I'm going to keep getting better with more fights. All the champions are training for mandatory fights, so I'm just going to stay busy until then."
Holyfield never backed down from Maddalone, who bled profusely from the moment the cut opened. He kept landing punch after punch, forcing trainer Al Certo to throw in the towel.
Evander Holyfield is willing to wait for a shot at yet another world title.
The only four-time heavyweight champion hopes the chance comes sooner rather than later.
The 44-year-old continued his comeback Saturday night by scoring a technical knockout over Vinny Maddalone at the American Bank Center. An accidental clash of heads opened a gash down the middle of Maddalone's forehead midway through the first round, one of several reasons why the journeyman's corner signaled referee Ruben Carrion to stop the fight at 2:48 of the third.
Holyfield took two years off from the Sweet Science to allow injures to both shoulders heal. His third straight victory since the layoff, Holyfield hopes it shortens the road to a possible title fight.
"I'm ready for a shot right now," said Holyfield, who improved to 41-8-2 with 27 knockouts.
Holyfield plans to fight again in late June or early July, but isn't sure against who or where. Since most belt holders are training for mandatory defenses, he plans on keeping himself occupied the only way he knows how.
"I'm just going to continue to practice my craft," Holyfield said. "I'm going to keep getting better with more fights. All the champions are training for mandatory fights, so I'm just going to stay busy until then."
Holyfield never backed down from Maddalone, who bled profusely from the moment the cut opened. He kept landing punch after punch, forcing trainer Al Certo to throw in the towel.