Evander’s goal: Go out a winner

Dean Juipe

Friday, Aug. 11, 2000 | 9:58 a.m.

History of some sort will be made Saturday when Evander Holyfield and John Ruiz fight for the vacant World Boxing Association heavyweight championship at Paris Las Vegas.

If Holyfield wins, he will become the sport's first four-time heavyweight champion.

If Ruiz wins, he will become the sport's first Puerto Rican heavyweight champion.

Bettors give the edge to the better known and more experienced Holyfield, as he remains a minus 430 favorite in the hotel's sports book. Ruiz is a plus 330.

"I wouldn't be taking the risk of fighting this young guy if it wasn't for the championship," Holyfield said. "I want to retire as undisputed heavyweight champion and I believe that's my destiny.

"This is the first step of that process."

Interestingly, neither man has targeted a likely next opponent in the event he wins. "It hasn't been discussed," Holyfield said, and questions to Ruiz on the same subject haven't elicited much more than a shrug.

In terms of the WBA, Wladimir Klitschko should move up to the mandatory challenger's position after Ruiz -- ranked No. 1 by the WBA -- and Holyfield -- ranked No. 2 -- resolve the issue of the organization's championship.

Holyfield, 37, is 36-3-1 with 25 knockouts and will be paid $5 million.

Ruiz, 28, is 36-3 with 27 KOs and is set to receive $1.1 million.

Promoter Don King promised a sold-out setting and workers were busy Thursday installing bleachers that will seat 7,000 in a converted convention area within the hotel. A Paris Las Vegas representative said, however, that tickets were available and are priced from $50 to $500.

Neither fighter has had a cross word to say about the other in the days and weeks leading up to this fight, which originally was scheduled for June 10 but was delayed by Holyfield suffering an injury to his rib cage.

"I'm not the kind of guy who bad-mouths other people," Ruiz, "The Quiet Man" from Chelsea, Mass., has said. The son of Puerto Rican immigrants, he worked himself to the top spot in the WBA ratings in spite of never beating a top-flight opponent.

That detail is of little consequence to Holyfield, the Atlanta resident who has his eye on a greater prize.

"I don't police the ratings," he said. "I'll fight this man and then look to unify the titles.

"I'll do that, then retire."