Ruiz-Holyfield III ends in a draw -- Ruiz retains WBA heavyweight title.

John Ruiz is named Puerto Rico's, "Boxer of the Year."

Ruíz-Holyfield III to take place at Foxwoods.

John Ruíz's bout-by-bout career boxing record.

Ruíz-Holyfield III ends in a draw -- Ruíz retains heavyweight title.

December 15, 2001 -- It was their third meeting fighting for a heavyweight title, but this time around neither one got a victory. John Ruíz and Evander Holyfield fought to a draw in their WBA heavyweight title fight on Saturday at Foxwoods Casino.

Holyfield entered the ring first in wearing a purple robe. Ruíz entered barechested with his camp carrying an American & Puerto Rican flag.

The first few rounds went by with not much action. There were plenty of grabbing holding and wrestling. In the first round, Ruíz went down after Holyfield wrestled him down. Referee Steve Smoger called it a slip.

The following two rounds seem like they were doing more holding than punching. Ruíz would throw two punches then hold. Holyfield would throw three punches and hold.

In Round 4, the action picked up a bit as both fighters went toe-to-toe in the middle of the round. Holyfield pressed Ruíz but did little once he got close to him except landing one sweeping left hook early in the round. Ruíz started landing to the body and landed some solid combinations on Holyfield. The four-time champion twice landed solid right uppercuts and a counter that seemed to slow Ruíz momentarily.

The following three rounds were very slow paced. Neither man were doing much and both of them started to look tired.

A fight finally broke out late in the 10th round when Holyfield landed solidly to open an exchange that Ruíz fought off with a right to the body. Then the two men mauled briefly until Smoger broke them and told them to cut out the rough stuff. Ruíz got in a left and a right. Holyfield answered with a right uppercut. Ruíz dug a left to the stomach with a minute left and then another. Ruíz landed two shots to the head of Holyfield. Now face to face and toe to toe, they exchanged solid hooks on the inside, spinning around as the bell sounded.

Round 11 began with Ruíz finally throwing more punches and landing them, both his jab and several hooks. Ruíz got in two hooks to the head with about 10 seconds left. Ruíz got in a short right to Holyfield's jaw at the bell.

When the final round began, it was unclear who held the lead and it seemed whoever closed the show would win the title. Holyfield landed three left hooks midway through the round that left Ruíz's nose bleeding and the champ seemed hurt for the first time. (Stoney, Ruíz's trainer said he broke his nose in the first round by an elbow from Holyfield).

Ruíz stumbled down, but got up quick. Once again it was ruled a slip by the referee and the fight continued. Ruíz, who is ten years younger than Holyfield, looked tired or a bit stunned. Holyfield landed a right hand to the head with a few seconds left in the fight.

When the decision was announced, Judge Julie Lederman scored the bout, 116-112, for Holyfield. Judge Don O'Neill had it, 115-113, for Ruíz. Judge Tom Kaczmarek scored it 114-114 and the fight was rendered a draw. John Ruíz retains his WBA heavyweight title and remains champion.

"I was disappointed. I wanted a knockout, but I definitely feel I won," said Ruíz after the fight. “I didn’t move as much as I usually do. I was trying. I fought his fight. It took me a while to get off but I did.

When asked if he thought he won the fight, Holyfield responded, "Of course I feel I won, but when it goes to the judges anything can happen."

Both fighters attended the post-fight press conference, but Ruíz left early to get treatment at a local hospital.