By Sammy Rozenberg

El Paso, Texas - The "Road To The Heavyweight Championship," as the event was delicately called, proved to be a showcase for Evander "Real Deal" Holyfield (42-8-2, 27KOs), who won a solid ten-round unanimous decision over the 41-year-old Lou Savarese (46-7, 38KOs) at the Don Haskins Center.

The fight began with a dark cloud for Savarese, as a left hand from Holyfield opened up a cut on his forehead. In the second, Savarese, who gave up the first with a lethargic start, began to trade with Evander. The third, was a street fight that saw both fighters let their hands go, but the toe to toe battle would cost Savarese in the following round.

A solid right hand that was followed by the left hook put Savarese in serious trouble in the fourth. Moments later, a combination of punches would send Savarese down on both knees. To his credit, he was able to beat the count and defuse a possible knockout loss by using his defensive skills to survive the round.

Neither man did much of anything in the fifth. The sixth was another good round for Savarese, who began to land uppercuts down the middle and short right hands. Holyfield would answer back with bodyshots and a jab that found it's mark, often. A tussle in the seventh had Holyfield stealing the round with a six punch exchange in the final ten seconds.

The action in the eight was mild, but a perfect left hook at the end of the ninth saw Savarese hit the mat like a dead man. The fight appeared to be over, but once again Savarese was able to get off the deck. Lucky for him, the round was coming to a close when he made it to his feet.

Savarese took such a beating in the tenth and final round, it appeared as if his corner and/or the referee were going to the stop the fight at any moment. The final scores were 99-87, 98-90 and 96-91.

There is no argument that Savarese was the perfect opponent for the aging, former undisputed heavyweight champion. Savarese was never a world beater, but he's certainly a step up in class from Holyfield's previous opponents by making it a fight. Holyfield showed good stamina throughout the ten round contest. He was able to put together combinations, display a solid jab, work the body and took the best punches that Savarese, who can actually punch, had to offer. 

The win over Savarese marks the fought victory in a row since coming off a medical suspension that was handed down by the New York State Athletic Commission. When Holyfield began his professional career in 1984, he predicted his career would end at age 28.

Today he's 44.

"I realized that 28 is not as old as I thought it was," Holyfield told the Associated Press. "I fought George (Foreman) when I was 29 and George was 42. I kind of thought, 'Shoot, man, I'll definitely be gone by that time. That would be real old.' Well, now I'm 44, and I don't think it's old at all."

Still, Holyfield is realistic. He knows that he's the same fighter who fought Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Buster Douglas.

"I used to work out three times a day. Now I work out one time a day," Holyfield said. "The fact is, it takes my body longer to recover than it used to. I have to have everything down to a science, what I need and don't need. I can't take nothing extra."

Holyfield now continues his quest of landing a heavyweight title shot. The likelihood of that happening does not look good in 2007. All four champions are committed to other fights.

IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is facing Lamon Brewster in a rematch in Germany on July 7, and has a possible date with Hasim Rahman in the fall. WBO champ Sultan Ibragimov and WBA champ Ruslan Chagaev are set to unify their titles in September. WBC champ Oleg Maskaev will face Samuel Peter on October 6, with the winner meeting Vitali Klitschko.

Holyfield has now fought 402 rounds as a professional. The only achievement that will make him retire is winning a heavyweight title for the fifth time. He maintains his desire to win all four major titles before calling it a career. An unlikely feat in this era of the sport. Considering all the politics, title belts and unworthy mandatory challengers, Holyfield has a better chance of winning the lottery.

He is the only four-time heavyweight champion in the history of boxing. An excellent solid career with a one way ticket to the hall of fame. Holyfield must have something to prove because he's not fighting for the money. Many of his opponents like Tyson, wasted their money. Holyfield still has piles of money in the bank from the millions he made during the course of his career.

After the embarrassment of being medically suspended, he wants to prove the world wrong more so than proving something to himself. So far, he's doing a pretty good job of both.