EVANDER HOLYFIELD, the four times heavyweight boxing champion of the world, last night launched a programme that will lead to the opening of a North-East boxing academy.
The legendary boxer, who this week announced his intention to fight for a fifth world championship at the age of 43, was flown over from the US as the main attraction at a black tie dinner at Newcastle's Civic Centre.
The trip across the Atlantic forms part of a plan designed by Glenn McCrory - the only North-East man to have claimed a respected world belt - to ensure an Olympic boxing gold medallist hails from this area by 2012.
"When I was growing up as a kid, it was fantastic to see amateur boxing on television and that's what drove me on to be the best," said Holyfield, a bronze medallist in the 1984 Olympic Games.
"Kids deserve a chance and to have an academy that aims to find and develop great boxers is fantastic.
"It's great to be a part of this and great for boxing in general."
Holyfield has not fought since losing to Larry Donald in 2004, but hopes to make a comeback later this year.
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