Holyfield predicts epic 2001

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001 | 10:35 a.m.

As a man who has ascended to the heavyweight championship four times in his 16-year professional career, Evander Holyfield's views on himself and his stature in the sport can't be dismissed or taken lightly. More than once his fists have backed up his talking.

But during a brief press tour to promote his March 3 title defense against John Ruiz at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Holyfield made himself out to be all but invincible. He's predicting a tremendously successful 2001, followed by a permanent retirement.

"I will fight three times this year and knock out all three opponents," he said. "This year I will be sensational."

But he hasn't been sensational for some time, perhaps since last defeating Mike Tyson in 1997, and he certainly wasn't sensational last year when he struggled to beat Ruiz when they fought at the Paris Las Vegas.

"That was last year," Holyfield rationalized. "This is my year. It is probably the year I will retire, but it is also a year that I will do great things in boxing."

Ruiz, overhearing such talk, dismissed it.

"He's overlooking me," Ruiz said. "He did that the first time and I think he's doing it again. He's got a big surprise coming.

"His retirement is coming early."

It almost came last Aug. 12 when Holyfield won a decision over Ruiz by the slimmest of margins. Two judges had the fight scored 114-113 and the third judge had it 116-112, each for Holyfield.

That victory improved Holyfield's record to 37-4-1 with 25 knockouts and allowed him to claim the World Boxing Association championship, which was available to the Holyfield-Ruiz winner after Lennox Lewis relinquished the crown.

Ruiz, despite losing to Holyfield and falling to 36-4 with 27 KOs, gained some respect for turning in a quality effort on a night when many expected him to be steamrolled.

"I'm going to be the next heavyweight champion," he said, his rematch with Holyfield ordered by the WBA as the result of the close scores in the first fight. "We should just get rid of the referee and judges, because there isn't going to be a decision this time."

Holyfield, 38, rejects the notion that he looked past Ruiz the first time or that he'll be guilty of that oversight when they go at it again at Mandalay Bay.

"I never take anyone for granted," he said. "I knew Ruiz would come and fight hard. I knew he wouldn't be afraid. I knew that it was his golden moment.

"The fact that Ruiz fought really well does not mean I fought badly. I know that a lot of people thought I should have blown him out ... (but) when people look at the situation the wrong way, they rob him of his credibility.

"Ruiz should have gotten credit for fighting a great fight."

If Holyfield is second-guessing himself on his strategy back in August, it's the result of an updated belief that he was too patient.

"I waited," he said. "I waited too long. I should have just turned the pressure up on him."

Tickets for the rematch are on sale and are priced from $50 to $750. Showtime will handle the pay-per-view telecast.