Holyfield-Ruiz Fight Rescheduled for OctoberThe postponed fight here between Evander Holyfield and John Ruiz has been rescheduled for October 28, the promoters announced Tuesday in Beijing.The Chinese promoting company said the fight will be staged on October 28 if everything goes smoothly. "On that day we are likely to feel a surprising delight," said Niu Lixin, President of the Chinese Great Wall Sports Company. The world title bout was forced to be delayed after World Boxing Association champion Ruiz came down with a stiff neck, just nine days ahead of the fight, which was originally set at August 5. Ruiz returned to the United States for treatment immediately after the postponement announcement while co-promoter Don King stayed to sort things out. The promoter said that in the following days of negotiations, both sides have committed to fulfilling all the obligations that need to be taken care of so that the fight could be rescheduled in China. "We've all committed, that means the fight is on," King said at the Beijing airport Wednesday afternoon before he left for the United States. "We are all meeting our obligations, so there should be no reason that the fight wouldn't be rescheduled in China and be even more successful," he added. "I love China, I love the Chinese people, and I love Beijing," the promoter said in Chinese. King added that no one is to blame for the postponement resulting from the injury to Ruiz's neck. "Mr. Niu was not at fault, the people of China wasn't at fault, Don King wasn't at fault," said King. "It is the act of God. "(By Sportswriter Liu Guang) |
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