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China to Host Holyfield-Ruiz WBA Heavyweight Title Bout
China will play host to a World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight title fight on August 5 (August 4 in the US) between current and former champions John Ruiz and Evander Holyfield, promoter Don King said in New York on Monday.
The fight is the first world heavyweight title bout in China, and the third between the two boxers in a year. Holyfield beat Ruiz in a decision in August before Ruiz took the title by unanimous decision on March 3, becoming the first heavyweight champion of Hispanic heritage.
On the same day, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman will fight Brian Nielsen of Denmark. If he wins, Rahman, who knocked out Lennox Lewis in South Africa on April 21 to win World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight titles, will take on the winner of the Ruiz-Holyfied fight in a unification bout, probably in Nigeria in November.
Together with Holyfield and Ruiz, King, who had staged Muhammad Ali fights as the "Thrilla in Manila" and "Rumble in the Jungle" in Zaire, will leave for China on Tuesday to visit the fight venue in Beijing, as the bout, originally scheduled on June 30, was delayed after Holyfield lost to Ruiz.
Holyfield regards the bout as a step to gain the undisputed heavyweight title, saying that "there's a lot of opportunities for everybody. John Ruiz is not the favorite. Rahman is not the favorite. They never considered me the favorite. So it's wide open for a new undisputed heavyweight champion of the world."
"This is a moment of turbulence in America's long history of relations with China. So let's get together for the love of the people," said 69-year-old King. "I want to bring the world together with peace and understanding through sports."
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