Holyfield vs. Ruiz, round by round

Saturday, Aug. 12, 2000 | 9:12 a.m.

Round 1 - Ruiz, in black trunks, ran from his dressing room into the ring. Holyfield, in red trunks, follows. For the first time in Nevada, fighters were allowed to wear different colored gloves, with Ruiz wearing predominantly black gloves and Holyfield predominantly white.

Fight begins with Ruiz coming out and landing several shots to the body of Holyfield on the ropes. Ruiz the aggressor early. Both fighters clinch a minute into the round. Holyfield wrestles Ruiz into the ropes in a corner. Ruiz lands left-right midway. Ruiz, using jab, lands three in a row and throws a right which is answered by Holyfield. Holyfield then lands a left-right combination. Ruiz lands right uppercut and has Holyfield on ropes, where both clinch. Ruiz Round

Round 2 - Both fighters trading jabs. Holyfield lands good hook and Ruiz answers with right. Holyfield and Ruiz both land good right hands. After an initial flurry, both fighters back off and are cautious. Holyfield lands a pair of jabs and wrestles Ruiz. He is warned by referee Richard Steele for holding behind the head. Holyfield lands a left and Ruiz goes down but it is ruled a slip. Steele has to separate fighters repeatedly. Ruiz lands jab but misses big right. Round ends with fighters in a clinch. Ruiz Round

Round 3 - Ruiz lands two jabs early, then lands two more. Holyfield holds onto Ruiz in corner. Holyfield lands a right 45 seconds into round. Ruiz responds with right of his own. Holyfield lands an uppercut and a right, left, his best punches of the fight. Midway through round, Ruiz slips and goes down again, pushed by Holyfield. Holyfield digs a left hook to the body and Ruiz misses a wild right and both clinch on the ropes. Holyfield lands two left hooks and a right, then a big right wobbles Ruiz with 25 seconds left. He tries to fight back and Holyfield is on him. Ruiz desperately trying to hold on. Holyfield Round

Round 4 - Holyfield lands early left-right. Holyfield is on his toes jabbing. Ruiz still seems hurt. Ruiz lands a right hand a minute into the round. Holyfield's jab is landing effectively. Ruiz lands a left to the midsection. Ruiz lands a right but Holyfield comes back with two lefts with 30 seconds left. Action slows as the fighters clinch at bell. Holyfield Round

Round 5- Holyfield lands right and Ruiz misses with two wild punches. Ruiz lands a big left hand a minute into the round, but backs off. Ruiz lands left-right uppercut on Holyfield in neutral corner midway through round. Both fighters trade good jabs at the 1-minute mark. Holyfield warned for holding and hitting. Holyfield on ropes again, where there is little action. Both fighters trade rights seconds before the bell. Ruiz Round

Round 6 - Ruiz lands two left hooks to open round. Holyfield comes back with jab. Referee calls time to fix tape on Ruiz' gloves. Holyfield lands right uppercut followed by left hook. Both fighters trade jabs and Ruiz is pushing Holyfield into ropes. A mark appears under Ruiz' right eye. With a minute left, both fighters are holding again. Holyfield Round

Round 7 - Ruiz lands right, and Holyfield comes back with good left-right combination. Ruiz lands two jabs and Holyfield holds him around the head in the corner. The round, like most others, consists of flurries of fighting and holding. Holyfield is more aggressive now. Ruiz' corner urges him to use the jab to keep Holyfield off. Holyfield lands big left hook, misses wild right. They trade good rights. Holyfield wrestles Ruiz to canvas for third time and is warned for the second time. Ruiz lands left hook on the ropes as round ends. Holyfield Round

Round 8 - Holyfield backs Ruiz into corner in opening seconds, both fighters trade rights. Holyfield misses wild left and Ruiz counters with right. Holyfield lands a lead right midway through the round. Ruiz counters with a left hook. A lot of clinching and pushing in center of the ring. Ruiz lands two jabs and Holyfield responds with a left hook with 30 seconds left. Ruiz lands a right, then misses with wild punch. Ruiz Round

Round 9 - Both fighters appear tired. Ruiz is backing away, trying to counterpunch. Little action in opening minute. Holyfield snaps good jab to Ruiz' head. Fight stopped midway through round to fix tape on Ruiz' gloves again. Ruiz lands sharp jab, then right hand. Ruiz lands uppercut and left with a minute left, then lands two more jabs. Holyfield responds with hook to the body and overhand right. Ruiz lands left and right as Holyfield pursues him with 20 seconds left. Both trade right hands. Ruiz Round

Round 10 - Holyfield comes out jabbing, but Ruiz answers. Both fighters doing little in first minute. Holyfield lands good left hook that seems to stun Ruiz. He follows him into the corner and lands two more punches. Ruiz claims a low blow and Steele stops the fight to allow him to recover. Ruiz sits on one knee in Holyfield's corner trying to recover. He gets up after about 45 seconds and the fight resumes, with 1:40 left in the round. Both fighters trade big head punches. Holyfield snaps Ruiz' head back with a left jab. Another left puts Ruiz into the corner. Holyfield lands an uppercut with 30 seconds left, then a combination, which Ruiz answers with a left-right of his own. Holyfield Round

Round 11 - Action is slow once again. Ruiz lands a few jabs, then a right hand. Ruiz lands a right with a minute left in the round. Holyfield responds with a left hook. Holyfield lands an uppercut. Holyfield lands a left hook and a right hand with 10 seconds left. Ruiz Round

Round 12 - Round stopped in opening seconds because tape unraveling on Ruiz' gloves. Neither fighter doing much early again. Ruiz lands good left and left hook. Holyfield follows with jab and right hand, and Ruiz lands three jabs. Holyfield misses with wild right and Ruiz ducks down to canvas. Holyfield lands good left hook and Ruiz appears stunned. He lands another and Ruiz is on the canvas, but Steele calls it a slip. Ruiz bleeding from nose. Holyfield following Ruiz around ring. Ruiz complains about an elbow. Holyfield lands flurry and finishing strong. Ruiz bulls him across the ring with 10 seconds left, and crowd boos as fight ends. Holyfield Round

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