Boxing: Evander Holyfield, the only man to have held the world heavyweight title on four occasions, moved a step closer to fulfilling his dream of regaining it when he scored a unanimous points victory over Lou Savarese in El Paso, Texas, yesterday, reports John Rawling.

The 44-year-old battered Savarese to the canvas in the fourth round and had his man down again with a left hook in the ninth. Holyfield came close to halting the fight in the 10th but Savarese, who announced his retirement after the fight, survived to the final bell when the judges' cards all went in Holyfield's favour with scores of 99-87, 98-90 and 96-91.

Holyfield, unmarked after the contest, which had brought the fourth victory of his comeback, said: "I will not quit until I am champion again."