Holyfield, aiming to become the first man to win the heavyweight throne five times, ended a 21-month lay-off with a second-round stoppage of fellow American Jeremy Bates on August 18 in Dallas.

Holyfield, 44 on October 19, dreams of recapturing the title before calling it quits. He is 39-8 with two drawn while Oquendo is 26-3 with 16 knockouts.

Oquendo, 33, lost world title bouts to American Chris Byrd in 2003 and compatriot John Ruiz in 2004.

Holyfield has blamed a run of three consecutive losses on a shoulder injury, but there are also health concerns for the four-time title loser as well.

He is approaching the record age of George Foreman, who recaptured the title, aged 45, in 1994.

A medical suspension kept Holyfield out of the ring, but he won a fight outside the ring to give himself another title chance.

Fighters from four former Soviet union nations now own the major heavyweight titles.

Holyfield's fight will be staged on a Friday, the night before International Boxing Federation champion Wladimir Klitchko from the Ukraine is set to defend his crown here against American Calvin Brock.