Promoter Says Holyfield to Fight Ruiz in China

Newly-crowned World Boxing Association champion John Ruiz is "one hundred percent" sure to make his first title defense in China, and his opponent will still be Evander Holyfield who he beat on a unanimous decision on Saturday in Las Vegas, the United States.

Chinese promoter Niu Lixin, president of the China Great Wall Sports Communication Ltd, dismissed reports that Ruiz is more likely to fight next in the United States, Niu told Xinhua through a telephone interview in Monday night.

Following a three-month negotiation, a contract between the Chinese company and Don King, Holyfield's promoter, was signed on February 14 in New York, saying that Holyfield will visit China for the first time for a WBA title defense in June 30.

Don King had claimed that the bout in China "will be a WBA fight, a WBA title fight and will have the presence of Holyfield himself" and he would invite some 300 friends for the tour including some U.S. senators and congressmen.

But things took a turn as Holyfield, who the Chinese promoter has figured to be the winner of the fight, lost his WBA title to Ruiz after a twelve-round bout.

"(Though Holyfield lost the fight,) our contract will go on as usual,"said Niu who has just finished his breakfast with Don King. "Holyfield will fight in China, and he will have a third straight fight with Ruiz in China."

"And Ruiz is one hundred percent certain to fight in China," he stressed.

The first fight between Holyfield and Ruiz was on August 12 in Las Vegas when Holyfield snatched the title which was stripped from Lennox Lewis after the Briton chose to fight unbeaten Michael Grant instead of lowly-regarded Ruiz. Lewis currently holds two other main titles, namely the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation crowns,

Niu also reconfirmed that Don King will travel to China as planned in March for more details of the fight, but he admitted that Holyfield's loss has pushed back the fight date which was originally set on June 30.

"The new date will depend on how fast Holyfield could recover from the fight,"said Niu.

According to the contract, during Holyfield's China tour four international fights will be competed as warm-ups with the presence of top boxers from Japan, South Korea and Thailand.html target=_blank>Thailand.






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