Former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield avoided a scheduled Wednesday deposition over child support by making a $9,000 payment for his 10-year-old son, according to the mother's lawyer.

Randy Kessler, attorney for Toi Irvin of Clayton County, said he was going to ask the judge to send Holyfield to jail at a Friday contempt hearing if he hadn't provided the money.

"He got the message, I think," Kessler said. "He knows he is the former heavyweight champion of the world and a lot of people will not step up to him. He knows this is one thing that not only should he do but he's got to do."

The payment — Holyfield is obligated to provide $3,000 a month — will protect Irvin and her son's home from foreclosure.

Holyfield also agreed to make timely child support payments, reinstate the boy's heath insurance, cover an unpaid private school bill and ensure that a college trust fund is in place, Kessler said.

Holyfield has until Sept. 1 to fulfill the obligations or face another hearing, Kessler said. Irvin had sought the hearing in superior court in Fayette County, where Holyfield lives.

Holyfield and Irvin reached the agreement just prior to a scheduled deposition for Holyfield.

"I think the fact that he was about to be deposed and there was about to be a hearing didn't hurt" in speeding the agreement, Kessler said.

Holyfield's attorney, Joy Edwards, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday afternoon.

In a June 7 Atlanta Journal-Constitution column about the former boxer's financial struggles, Holyfield was quoted as saying, "I have always taken care of my children. It's just one of the mothers who's saying something because she thinks it will embarrass me."