( CNN ) -- Evander Holyfield failed in his bid to become the oldest heavyweight champion when he lost on points to giant Russian Nikolai Valuev in Zurich , Switzerland on Saturday . Holyfield struggles to escape the reach of seven-foot Russian world champion Valuez in Zurich . One judge scored the bout a draw while the others had Valuev winning 115-114 and 116-112 thus denying 46-year-old Holyfield the heavyweight title for the fifth time . American Holyfield will take time to consider whether to return to the ring after his defeat . `` I will go home and think about the future , '' he said . `` But I knew I could still do it . `` I fought very well and won the fight but I did not get the decision . I think I showed tonight that I still can box and that age does not matter . '' Valuev said it was an honor to fight a legend like Holyfield . `` I am proud to have been in the same ring with him , '' he said . `` He was very fast and hard to hit . I can only advise people not to get hit by him . I expected a tough fight and that is what it was . Holyfield is a great fighter and he proved it tonight . '' With Valuev controlling the centre of the ring in the opening rounds , Holyfield danced around his opponent , hitting with occasional single shots . He did well to stay away from Valuev´s long left jab and hit him with a big left in the fourth , but the Russian answered with a strong right uppercut . Much to the delight of the crowd , the fifth was a good round for Holyfield who first landed a right-left combination to the body and later connected with a big left hook to the head . Both men were on target during a mid-round exchange in the sixth , but Valuev´s left jab looked more effective . In the seventh , the crowd raised the roof when Holyfield fired in a combination to the head . Valuev´s corner urged him to be more aggressive and he eventually landed a strong right in the eighth when Holyfield seemed to tire a little . The seven foot Russian remained on the front foot as there was a big exchange during the ninth , and in the 10th Holyfield landed a strong right-left combination . Valuev finished better and pushed his opponent in the corner in the 12th . After the final bell , both men hugged each other , with either fighter claiming the win . When the scorecards were read , boos rang out as the crowd favorite 's narrow defeat was confirmed .
Evander Holyfield failed in bid to become oldest heavyweight champion . Lost on points to giant Russian Nikolai Valuev in Zurich , Switzerland . American Holyfield , 46 , will take time to decide whether return to boxing .