Evander Holyfield resumes his quest to become the undisputed heavyweight champion again when he meets little-known Jeremy Bates tonight at AmericanAirlines Arena in Dallas.

It’s Holyfield’s first fight since being suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission for looking so horribly inept in losing a decision to Larry Donald at the Garden in November 2004.

Holyfield, who turns 44 in October, has won at least a portion of the heavyweight championship four times. But he hasn’t had a legitimate victory since out-pointing John Ruiz in 2000. Holyfield got a license to fight in Texas and is promoting the card himself, but most people around boxing wish he would retire.

“Holyfield has proven us wrong in the past,” said Rock Newman, who managed Holyfield’s rival Riddick Bowe. “But even with that said, he’s 44-years-old. To go on and try to compete beyond the time your body is able to perform is only to diminish what you’ve accomplished in the past. The fact he was beaten by [James] Toney and Donald, is a sad commentary that he’s already hung around way to long.”

Holyfield blamed shoulder injuries for his recent poor performances. He is 2-5-2 since 1999.

“When my shoulder would get tired, I’d keep my arm so tight to my chest, I couldn’t do anything,” Holyfield said. “It made me look as old as they said I was. And now, through the last fight with Larry Donald, actually them taking my license, it gave me a chance to recover, because I wasn’t boxing.”

Holyfield’s trainer Ronnie Shields thinks Holyfield (38-8-2, 25 KOs) will be impressive tonight against Bates (21-11-1, 18 KOs).

“I know this may sound crazy to some, but I’m telling you, Evander is in the best shape he’s been in for the past 10 years,” Shields said. “If he performs the way he’s been performing in the gym, I truly believe he has a real chance with anyone out there.”