Evander Holyfield vs. John Ruiz

After Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield at the second attempt to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, the WBA ordered Lewis to face its top contender John Ruiz, where as Lewis wanted to first defend his titles against WBC and IBF number two contender Michael Grant. The WBA and Lewis agreed that he would fight Grant first followed by Ruiz. Ruiz's promoter Don King challenged the decision in court and a clause was found in Lewis' contract that stated the winner of the Holyfield–Lewis fight would first defend his titles against the WBA's number one contender. Because of this, Lewis was stripped of his WBA title.^[2] The WBA chose Holyfield to face Ruiz for the vacant WBA Heavyweight title.

The co feature of the bout was set to be a mandatory defence for WBA welterweight champion James Page against Andrew Lewis, however it was called off at a few days notice after a dispute over the purse bid.^[3] As a result a bout between Rosendo Álvarez and Beibis Mendoza, which was originally part of the undercard for the Tim Austin vs. Arthur Johnson bout held the day before, was moved to fill the slot on the Holyfield Ruiz card.^[4]

Ruiz was aggressive throughout the fight landing many effective jabs, and except for late in the third round, he was never really in any serious trouble from Holyfield.

Judges Duane Ford and Dave Moretti scored the fight 114–113, while Fernando Viso scored it 116–112 giving Evander Holyfield victory by unanimous decision to become the first boxer in history to be the World Heavyweight Champion four times.

Main event scorecards

More information Holyfield, vs. ...

Nevada State Athletic Commission^[5]
Official score card

Title: Justice						Referee: Richard Steele						Supervisor:
Date: 12 August 2000						Venue: Paris Las Vegas						Promoter: Don King
Holyfield		vs.	Ruiz			Holyfield		vs.	Ruiz			Holyfield		vs.	Ruiz
RS	TS	Rd	TS	RS		RS	TS	Rd	TS	RS		RS	TS	Rd	TS	RS
9		1		10		9		1		10		9		1		10
10	19	2	19	9		9	18	2	20	10		9	18	2	20	10
10	29	3	28	9		10	28	3	28	8		10	28	3	28	8
9	38	4	38	10		9	37	4	38	10		9	37	4	38	10
9	47	5	48	10		9	46	5	48	10		9	46	5	48	10
10	57	6	57	9		9	55	6	58	10		9	55	6	58	10
10	67	7	66	9		10	65	7	67	9		10	65	7	67	10
9	76	8	76	10		10	75	8	76	9		9	74	8	77	10
10	86	9	85	9		10	85	9	85	9		10	84	9	86	9
10	94	10	94	9		10	95	10	94	9		10	94	10	95	9
10	104	11	103	9		9	104	11	104	10		10	104	11	104	9
10	116	12	112	9		10	114	12	113	9		10	114	12	113	9
FINAL SCORE	116	–	112	FINAL SCORE		FINAL SCORE	114	–	113	FINAL SCORE		FINAL SCORE	114	–	113	FINAL SCORE
Won			Lost			Won			Lost			Won			Lost
Judge: Fernando Viso						Judge: Duane Ford						Judge: Dave Moretti
Suspensions: None						Point deductions: None						Decision: Unanimous decision for Holyfield

Close

The decision was controversial as many observers and boxing reporters felt that the underdog Ruiz had done enough to win. In interviews after the fight Ruiz said "It was highway robbery without a gun,... I won the fight and he knows I won the fight...I had control of the fight. I am very surprised by the judges' decision. I don't know what fight they saw." Showtime commentators described the decision as "absurd" and "ridiculous".^[6]

Due to this controversial decision, an immediate rematch was ordered to take place in early 2001

Eight days after refereeing the co featured bout, referee Mitch Halpern committed suicide at his home in Las Vegas.^[7]

Confirmed bouts:^[8]