ATLANTIC CITY (New Jersey), June 2: Four-time world champion Evander Holyfield claimed a technical split decision over Hasim Rahman in a heavyweight non-title bout Saturday after the fight was stopped in the eighth round following an accidental head butt.

With a large bump forming over Rahman’s left eye referee Tony Orlando stopped the fight 1:40 into the eighth round sending the decision to the judges, who scored the fight 2-1 for Holyfield.

The victory improves Holyfield’s record to 38-5-2 and puts the 39-year-old in position to demand a title fight with the winner of the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson bout in Memphis next Saturday.

It is the second consecutive loss for Rahman (35-4), who was knocked out by Lewis last November in Las Vegas as the Brition reclaimed his WBC and IBF crowns.

Holyfield, who will turn 40 in October, has flatly rejected any suggestion of retirement saying he would contine until he regains the undisputed world championship for a fifth time.—Reuters