Former heavyweight champion of the world Evander Holyfield will take part in his final professional boxing competition in the United States next year so he can concentrate on his business enterprises, he said during a trip to Guangzhou on Friday.

Holyfield, a bronze medalist at the 1984 Summer Olympics, is a multiple world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.

He came to Guangzhou last week to attend the ongoing 104th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) and to talk about product endorsement deals with several companies there.

He plans to stage a comeback against Russian giant Nikolai Valuev for the World Boxing Association (WBA) world championship belt in December. If he wins, he will become the oldest heavyweight champion to date at the age of 46.

He has already been crowned champion four times.

"I chose to return to the WBA to show people that you can still do what you want to do even though you are getting older as long as you never give up. And I am confident that I will be crowned for the fifth time," Holyfield said, adding that he plans to retire in 2009.

With more WBA crowns than any other boxer, Holyfield said his success would not have been possible without strong parental support.

"I was born in a poor family," said Holyfield, who began boxing at age 12. "Many people said I wouldn't succeed, but my mother told me I could if I didn't quit."

"I believe life is about not quitting, therefore, after I leave my boxing career in the future, I will continue the 'no quitting' spirit in my business," he said.

Holyfield has 11 children - six boys and five girls - from three marriages. He said he will encourage his kids just as his mother encouraged him.

Prior to noted appearances at the Bud Bar during the Beijing Games, the last time the "Real Deal" came to China was in 2001. Returning here seven years later, Holyfield said he was impressed with the changes he has witnessed.

"China has held a very successful Olympic Games, what could be better than this?" he said.

"I'm also impressed with the outstanding performance of the Chinese boxing athletes in the Olympic Games. But professional competition is different from the Olympic Games. If Chinese boxers want to win WBA championships, they still need to put in a lot of hard work."

(China Daily October 22, 2008)