Monday, November 15, 2004
Hasim Rahman put himself in position for a title shot.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Chris Byrd and John Ruiz still are champions. Not surprisingly, they retained their heavyweight titles in contrasting ways.
Byrd smoothly rallied with precise if underpowered flurries to beat Jameel McCline on a split decision Saturday night to keep his IBF title. McCline scored the only knockdown of the bout and was sharp for the first four rounds before faltering.
Ruiz kept his WBA crown with a unanimous decision over Andrew Golota that can best be described as sloppy.
Ruiz was knocked down twice and penalized once, but he's still a champion.
"I knew I was behind and had to work really hard to get this win," said Ruiz, the first heavyweight champion from Puerto Rico.
Holyfield outclassed
While those two titleholders were successful, two former champs were outpointed. Four-time champion Evander Holyfield was totally outclassed by Larry Donald, and Oliver McCall lost to DaVarryl Williamson.
Another former champion, Hasim Rahman, put himself in position for a shot at either Byrd, Ruiz or WBC champion Lamon Brewster by stopping Kali Meehan of New Zealand in four rounds.
Byrd, 35, started very slowly, but when McCline began running out of steam, Byrd's combinations became more effective. He did plenty of fighting off the ropes, landing some of his best shots in the counterattack -- even if those punches had little steam.
McCline, a local product who had a vocal following in the crowd of 12,777, decked his close friend in the third round with what Byrd called "a perfect shot right behind the ear."
After pressing matters early, however, the 270-pound McCline couldn't keep up his pace. By the end of the fight, not even the 56-pound weight contrast had an effect as Byrd piled up enough points for a split decision.
"I definitely did enough to win the fight," Byrd said. "I'm a champion. The way I fought back showed I am a true champion. I had to dig down; he weighed 270 pounds."
It was the third title defense for the southpaw Byrd, and all were tight decisions. He drew with Golota in his last defense.
Ruiz rallies
Golota appeared to have the better of Ruiz for much of their fight, more of a street brawl than anything artistic. But Ruiz, 32, rallied from two knockdowns in the second round, by far the most one-sided of the fight, and won the final round to clinch the victory.
Then, as he often has done before, Ruiz complained about the referee, who ejected one of his cornermen in the eighth round.
"I was very discouraged," Ruiz said. "I felt I had to fight against two fighters in the ring. They wanted to take my belt away."
It certainly was there for the taking, but Golota couldn't take advantage, a problem throughout his checkered career.
"I thought I won the fight. I am confused," the native of Poland said. "I don't agree that he beat me. That's the thing about boxing."
Holyfield was anything but the "Real Deal" as Donald dominated from the outset of their 12-round bout. He staggered the used-up Holyfield several times, particularly in the ninth, when the 42-year-old former champion was fortunate not to hit the canvas.
Donald, who has never fought for a major heavyweight title, could be in line for a shot off his sharp performance. He swept the judges' cards, winning nearly every round with all three.
"I want to challenge all the world title belt-holders," Donald said, "because I think I earned a shot with my performance tonight."
Rahman has won five straight and his four-round demolition of the stationary Meehan should earn him another title shot.
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