Holyfield takes on music business

Holyfield says it doesn't matter whether he faces Lennox Lewis or Mike Tyson for the world heavyweight championship

CANNES, France (CNN) -- Back in 1997, the last time "Iron" Mike Tyson fought in Las Vegas, he bit off part of his opponent's ear.

That opponent, Evander Holyfield, has fortunately retained his hearing and is now looking to take on the music business.

CNN's Hala Gorani recently spoke with Holyfield about his new venture, Real Deal Records, and the expected match-up between Tyson and Lennox Lewis. (The interview was conducted before the latest controversy stemming from Tyson's outburst at a recent news conference in New York.) Following is the transcript of that interview:

Holyfield: I love music, I was brought up on music. But in music it's is a lot ... when it came to hip-hop it came down to a lot of, you know, explicit lyrics that I didn't want my kids to hear. But that's the only type of music that they like, they like rap, the like the hip-hop flavor, so I realized, I said, if I start this, if I do this, I can put something positive out there, you know, same flavor, but choosing a better selection of words.

CNN: How many albums sold is successful for Real Deal records?

Holyfield: Right now, right now you know I don't really want to say, because the fact is this: You have to crawl before you walk, and so we are in the crawling stage, and eventually we'll be in the running stage.

CNN: And you're in the running stage in boxing that's for sure, you're almost 40 years old, you're not retired, you drew with John Ruiz in December, when's your next big match-up?

Holyfield: Well hopefully, this year sometime in the spring I'll be getting another opportunity to be the five-time heavyweight champ of the world. You know, my career has ups and downs, you know that's life itself, you know, but it's the one who endures. You know, I am an overcomer, I overcome anything that ... happens.

A referee checks Holyfield after Tyson bit his ear during their 1997 fight

CNN: I've got to ask you, Tyson, Lewis, who do you think will beat the other?

Holyfield: Well I think for style-wise, I think it match up more (for) Tyson. But you know when you have two individuals that's as good as either one of them is, whoever they fight they fight. Of course (if) its Lennox's (behavior) to hold him off by fighting his side of the fight, Lenox will win. But I think Tyson, Tyson in general don't fight ... the way he fight, so it's probably a lot easier for Tyson to fight his fight than for Lennox to fight his fight.

CNN: Who would you rather fight against? Because you fought with Tyson and famously lost a chunk of your ear. You've got some issues with him?

Holyfield: Well, I don't have any issues, I forgave Tyson back in, you know, 1999. And, I just look forward to fighting the winner. It really don't make a difference.

CNN: Doesn't make a difference at all?

Holyfield: No, not at all.

CNN: Where do you see yourself, where do you see Evander Holyfield in 10 years?

Holyfield: Oh shoot, I think as far as music, you know, I'd be the best. ... I look at stages in life, how did you come in, where were you when you start, because it's not where you are at, it's where you are going. So you know in the music business, right now I'm crawling, getting to meet people. ... A lot of time when you're an athlete, the only thing you need is yourself. But in the music business it's who you connect with, the people that you partner with. So (I'm) looking forward to finding some winners and connecting with some winners.

CNN: Boxing-wise then, in 10 years ... you won't be boxing in 10 years, right?

Holyfield: I won't be boxing in 10 years. But I will be the five-time undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.