Holyfield wants title shot

Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has declared he wants to fight WBA holder David Haye or one of the Klitschko brothers.

Although he turns 48 next month, Holyfield is eager for another heavyweight title challenge, meaning his options are limited to either Haye or the Ukrainian Klitschko brothers - Wladimir, who holds the IBO and WBO titles, or Vitali, holder of the WBC belt.

Holyfield is scheduled to fight the unheralded Sherman Williams in Detroit in November, but made it clear he has his heart set on bigger scalps.

"I'm looking at both the Klitschko brothers and David Haye," he said.

"I want to fight the people with the titles. I'm fighting this Williams guy because I need to stay active."

In what highlighted the dearth of legitimate title contenders in the heavyweight division, Holyfield came painstakingly close to defeating then-WBA champion Nikolai Valuev in December 2008, despite not having beaten a recognised contender in six years before the bout.

In his last 16 fights, the American has lost seven times and drawn twice, with his most notable win being a technical knockout over Francois Botha in April.

Holyfield dismissed suggestions he is too old to face 29-year-old Englishman Haye, who beat Valuev for the WBA title in November 2009.

"People say 'you're too old.' But what's the point of living if you can't set goals? It's not how you start, it's how you end," Holyfield said.