Description : Here we have an original onsite poster from Caesars Palace for the 1st meeting between Evander Holyfield & John (Juan) Ruiz for the WBA Heavyweight Title. This fight was cancelled & rescheduled for the 8th August over the road at the Paris, I attended this fight at the Paris Casino in Las Vegas & not a cheap ticket to be had, considering the fight took place in a ballroom!
In 2000, Lennox Lewis was stripped of the WBA belt for failing to meet lightly regarded Don King fighter John Ruiz, having fought Ruiz's conqueror David Tua, and the WBA ordered Holyfield and Ruiz to meet for that organization's world title belt. Holyfield and Ruiz began their trilogy in August of that year, with Holyfield making history by winning on a controversial, but unanimous 12 round decision to become the first boxer in history to be the World Heavyweight Champion four times. Holyfield blamed his lackluster performance on a perforated (broken) eardrum.
judge: Duane Ford 114-113 | judge: Dave Moretti 114-113 | judge: Fernando Viso 116-112
Seven months later, in March 2001, it was Ruiz's turn to make history at Holyfield's expense when he surprisingly managed to knock Holyfield down and beat him by a 12 round decision to become the first Hispanic ever to win a Heavyweight title. On December 15 of that year, Holyfield challenged Ruiz for the title, in an attempt to become champion again. The fight was declared a draw and John Ruiz maintained the WBA Championship title.
This is the only poster produced for this fight we have ever seen.
Postage: £10.00 Special Delivery... £20.00 International.