Report: Holyfield banned from fighting in New York

NEW YORK - Evander Holyfield was banned from fighting in New York by the state's athletic commission, the Daily News reported Tuesday.

The New York State Athletic Commission suspended the 42-year-old Holyfield's boxing license because of his ``diminished skills and poor performance,'' the newspaper reported. The commission also lifted a medical suspension that had blocked him from fighting in other states.

State Athletic Commissioner Ron Stevens told the newspaper Holyfield underwent a battery of nine tests, including a few designed to detect brain trauma. According to the tests' findings, Holyfield has no significant health problems. And the commission wants to make sure that continues to be the case.

``We are the boxer's last line of defense,'' Stevens said.

Holyfield, of Fairburn, Ga., lost to Larry Donald last Nov. 13, and is 2-5-2 since 1999.

Holyfield's manager, Alex Krys, told the newspaper he is already looking to set up a match in Europe for the former heavyweight champion.