Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will return to the ring next March, at the age of 48, to take on Denmark’s Brian Nielsen, three years his junior, in a battle of the veterans.

Holyfield, who has won the world heavyweight title four times in his career, last fought in April when he beat South Africa’s Francois Botha in Las Vegas to win the World Boxing Federation’s heavyweight title.

He turned 48 in October and will face Denmark’s Nielsen on March 5, 2011, in Copenhagen in what will be Holyfield’s 56th professional fight. He goes to Denmark with a record of 43 wins, 28 knock-outs, ten defeats and two draws.

Holyfield, dubbed the Real Deal, has beaten George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe and Michael Morrer in his career, but has won only five of his last ten fights since 2002.

In contrast, this will be Nielsen’s first fight for eight years, but the Dane has plenty of experience and brings an impressive record of 64 wins from 66 fights with 43 knock-outs and just two defeats.

His last defeat was back in 2001 against Mike Tyson when he retired in the seventh round having been knocked down in the third. His biggest success was 13 years ago when he beat Larry Holmes on points to win the IBO heavyweight title.