Holyfield

HOLLYWOOD, Florida (AP):

Evander Holyfield will replace Ruslan Chagaev ina bout against Sultan Ibragimov in Russia in October, six days before the former heavyweight champ's 45th birthday.

Event organisers announced yesterday that Chagaev, the WBA heavyweight champion, was withdrawing because of unspecified medical reasons.

He was scheduled to fight Ibragimov, the WBO champ, in an October 13 unification bout at Khodynka Arena in Moscow.

In his latest comeback attempt, Holyfield (42-8-2, 27 KOs) is seeking to earn a record fifth heavyweight title.

The 32-year old Ibragimov, who will be fighting in his native country, is 21-0-1 with 17 KOs.