Sports - Four-time champ Holyfield launches comeback with a win

Four-time heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield launched his comeback bid with a second-round technical knockout of Jeremy Bates here on Friday.

Holyfield, 43, had been absent from the ring since a loss to Larry Donald in November 2004 that led to his license being revoked by the State of New York on medical grounds.

“I'm so glad to get the opportunity to get back in the ring and show the people that I wasn't not a boxing man because I'm old,” Holyfield said. “I was able to do the things that I haven't been able to do in five years.

“I was able to slip punches, I was able to use my foot speed, I was able to go in and out.”Holyfield, who improved to 39-8-2, with 26 knockouts, had hand-picked Bates for his return bout, which was scheduled for 10 rounds.

The ex-champ pounded the insurance salesman late in each round before referee Rafael Ramos stopped the fight with four seconds remaining in the second.

Less than a minute into the bout, chants of “Holy-field, Holy-field” rang throughout the arena.

But the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist in the light heavyweight division did not need any extra motivation against Bates (21-12-1), who had retired after suffering a second-round knockout to Ray Austin on April 1 before being recruited by Holyfield.

With time winding down in the first round, Holyfield landed a good right that backed Bates against the ropes.

Holyfield landed a barrage of unanswered punches before the round ended.

Holyfield rocked Bates with a pair of lefts midway through the second round but was caught with a good right shortly thereafter.

He regrouped quickly and turned on another barrage, prompting Ramos to step in.

“I caught Evander on the chin,” Bates said. “Make-believe guys would have gone down. I thought, 'Oh my God, I just caught Evander Holyfield.' I may have struck out, but I struck out swinging.””I didn't get hurt,” Holyfield said. “I saw the shot. It got in. I was glad I was able to recover.”