DALLAS (AP) _ Evander Holyfield began his latest comeback looking a lot more like ``The Real Deal'' than he has in years.
Holyfield rocked Jeremy Bates into the ropes late in the first round, withstood a few hard shots _ including one to his face _ early in the second, then cornered and pummelled his insurance-salesman foe to earn a technical knockout with four seconds left in the round, capturing his first victory since June 2002.
``I was able to do the things I haven't been doing in about five years,'' said Holyfield, crediting his 21-month layoff for renewed health.
The 43-year-old Holyfield ended a career-worst skid of three straight losses since his last victory, over Hasim Rahman. That doesn't even include getting KO'd last summer on the reality television show ``Dancing With The Stars.''
A crowd of about 8,000 chanted ``Ho-ly-field!'' about 45 seconds in, then the four-time heavyweight champion really got them roaring over the last 30 seconds of the first round. He trapped Bates on the far side of the ring, bouncing him against the ropes with a flurry of punches. The bell saved him from further damage.
Bates (21-12-2) had his best success with several hard rights that pushed Holyfield back in the second round. A body blow followed the pop in the chops, but several clinches sapped whatever momentum Bates was building.
Holyfield soon pinned Bates again and began pounding his face and body. There was so little resistance that the referee stopped the fight rather than let Bates be saved by the bell again.
This fight began what's being hyped as ``Holyfield V, The Final Chapter,'' a comeback he fully expects to end with him becoming the heavyweight champion for the fifth time. He's already the only person to do it four times.
He figures his age isn't a factor because George Foreman got the title at 45. And he dismisses his lack of success the past five years to a shoulder injury and cramps, all of which healed during a long layoff partially forced by New York officials revoking his license because of ``diminished skills and poor performance'' in his previous fight, a November 2004 loss to Larry Donald.
Holyfield said he didn't need this quick victory to prove he's back _ but his doubters probably did.
``It's what it did for other people,'' he said. ``Age is a number, if you're willing to pay the price that's necessary.''
Holyfield said Thursday he already has his next foe lined up, but wouldn't announce it before the fight out of respect to Bates. He also believes he's on pace to have a title fight next year, with an aim to unify the belts and call it quits for good in 2008.
Immediately after the bout, he only said, ``I'm looking forward to a top 10 fight.''
Bates, 32, came in making no secret of his admiration for Holyfield, calling him ``my hero'' and repeatedly saying he was ``just happy to be here.'' He got into boxing after watching Holyfield at the 1984 Olympics, then became a three-time Golden Gloves champion in West Virginia.
Nicknamed ``The Beast,'' Bates had only middling success as a pro and retired in December. He took an easy payday in April, then was so excited to have the chance to face Holyfield that he came back again _ only this time taking eight weeks off work to train, getting into what he said was the best shape of his life. He's already told his boss he'll be back at work Monday.
And he'll take with him a great memory of his one brief flurry.
``I thought, `Oh my God, I just caught Evander Holyfield,''' Bates said.
