Evander Holyfield, pictured during victory over Jeremy Bates in August 2006. Photograph: Matt Slocum/AP

Evander Holyfield is in talks for a contest that could see him become the oldest ever WBA heavyweight champion. If matters are agreed he would fight the current champion, Russia’s Nikolay Valuev.

“Yes, we are in negotiations with Evander Holyfield. We have made him an offer but nothing has been signed yet,” Sauerland Event managing director Chris Meyer said today. “Should the fight happen, it will likely be staged in either Switzerland or Germany in December.”

The four-time heavyweight champion, who lost his last comeback fight in October 2007, is keen to get back into the ring at the age of 46.

“It’s solid,” said Holyfield. “They asked if I will take the fight for the offer they made and if everything is straight up, I will take that fight.” Holyfield is known to have suffered financial problems recently, and although he did not reveal details of the proposed purse, it is believed to be less than $750,000.

Holyfield has not fought since losing a unanimous decision to Sultan Ibragimov, the then-WBO heavyweight champion, last year. Holyfield would also concede a huge height and weight advantage to Valuev should the fight go ahead; the American stands at 6ft 4in and has never weighed more than 220 pounds in his career, while the 7ft Valuev, from St Petersburg, Russia, weighs more than 300 pounds.

“They said I was too old when I was 34 and was getting ready to fight Mike Tyson for the first time,” said Holyfield, who went on to knock out Tyson. “There’s nothing new with what people say. I have a desire and I am the one who got to train and I am willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be the best. Just imagine a 46-year-old guy being heavyweight champ of the world.”

Reports suggest that Holyfield will be looking for a new trainer for the bout after he parted company with Ronnie Shields, who trained him for the Ibragimov fight. “I’m probably looking for another trainer. Ronnie left after Ibragimov. I haven’t made arrangements yet on a trainer. I hadn’t really thought of who would be the right person.”

The previous oldest heavyweight champion was George Foreman, who knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994, aged 45.

Valuev, who has won 49 of his 50 career bouts, 34 by knockout, most recently beat John Ruiz in a unanimous points decision on August 30 to claim the vacant belt.

guardian.co.uk