Holyfield is down and out

Like so many before him, Evander Holyfield found out the hard way that a mighty ego and an insatiable appetite for victory can be dangerous allies within the confines of a boxing ring as he lost his World Boxing Association version of the world heavyweight title in Las Vegas against the limited John Ruiz, an opponent the Holyfield of old would once have swept aside.

At 38, Holyfield is the same age as Muhammad Ali when The Greatest suffered his pitiful defeat in 1980 at the hands of Larry Holmes, and, although Holyfield has not declined to the extent of Ali, this was a humiliating defeat.

If Holyfield is not a totally "shot" fighter, he is most certainly a pale imitation of the fearless gladiator who has figured in some of the sport's most stirring contests.

Sadly, and worryingly, the man himself refuses to accept the clear evidence in the erosion of his talents and his immediate reaction to the unanimous verdict given against him by the judges was a vow to fight on.

An untidy contest had been close until the 10th round when Holyfield had a point deducted by referee Joe Cortez for throwing a low punch, but the real damage came in the 11th when the old champion was sent to the canvas as he was tagged by a right hand thrown by the bruised and battered Ruiz.

Holyfield regained his feet at the count of five, but took a savage beating leaving two judges giving the round 10-8 to Ruiz, and the third by a crushing 10-7. When Ruiz continued to dish out more punishment in the final round, the result was inevitable.

"It's not over for me. I've got to go back to what I used to do and not leave things to the judges," said a self-deluding Holyfield afterwards, adding, "I'd love to fight him again."

Ruiz (29), an American of Puerto Rican parents had complained of being robbed of the title last August when he fought Holyfield and lost to a controversial points verdict.

"I know I beat him the first time, and this time I proved it. I came and got what belonged to me. I proved to everyone that I am a champion," said Ruiz, who becomes the first Hispanic to hold a heavyweight title.

His win will open up a very real possibility of a defence against Mike Tyson this summer as the prospect of Tyson fighting Lennox Lewis, who holds the WBC and IBF titles, remains as remote as ever.

As for Holyfield, the hope is that his adviser and attorney Jim Thomas now takes the man he calls his friend to one side and whispers: "No more".

A champion of Holyfield's stature, ranked by the respected American fight journal Ring Magazine as third only to Ali and Joe Louis in a list of the best heavyweights of all-time, should leave great memories.

If he continues, a faded Holyfield is in grave danger of becoming no more than a willing trial horse, and a man who is risking long-term physical damage.