There will be no mid-life comeback for heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.
"I just hope the Lord doesn't let me do that," Holyfield said. "That would be foolish. I realize that when I look and see young fighters just coming to the Olympics. They're a lot better now than in my time."Holyfield already has beaten former champion George Foreman, 43, and he'll defend his crown June 19 in Las Vegas against another former champion, 42-year-old Larry Holmes.
But the future of the title after Holyfield belongs to a teenager, according to Holyfield.
"There's going be a guy 18-19 (years old) champion of the world when I get out of it," Holyfield said. "There won't be none of them guys that are already 26-27, because I'll be right there taking care of them."
And when he's finished, Holyfield says he won't be tempted to come back.
"My mind will always be better, but if I can't do what the mind tells me to do, I'll be a punching bag," he said. "They'll knock all thoughts out of my head."
Holyfield would like to keep fighting until Mike Tyson gets out of jail and until the 1996 Olympics, set in his hometown of Atlanta. But he won't prolong his career for either event.
"I'm looking at 1996 because the Olympics will be in Atlanta, so when people come to Atlanta they'll come to my hometown where the heavyweight champion lives," Holyfield said.
"But I'll take it one fight at a time. I shouldn't fight until 1996 if I'm not willing to work for it, so health and motivation will be factors. I've got to do what's best for me."
That will be Holyfield's guideline whether waiting for the Olympics or Tyson.
"If Tyson happens to come along in the time I'm still there, yes, I would do it," he said. "But to prolong my career just for him, I wouldn't do that."
Holyfield doesn't expect to soften Holmes with praise, but he does think Holmes was unappreciated as a champion.
"He made everybody else look like amateurs," Holyfield said. "It was like taking candy from a baby when he was in his prime. He was so much better than the rest of the boxers they didn't give him the credibility he deserved."