Toward the latter end of his career, Evander Holyfield had clearly lost a significant step in the ring, but that didn’t prevent him from achieving a staggering historic feat.
Making history in the ring prior, Alabama native Holyfield had secured undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight gold early during his tenure in the sport — a feat later replicated by Ukrainian megastar Oleksandr Usyk.
And long after his notable rivalry with fellow heavyweight icon Mike Tyson, Holyfield — who toppled the Catskills striker to win divisional gold — kick-started a staggering third reign as champion.
But in 2000, Holyfield would set heavyweight division history in his first of three fights against a veteran rival.
Evander Holyfield set historic heavyweight title record
And on this day in 2000, Holyfield would begin his three-fight rivalry with John Ruiz — with the duo competing for a WBA heavyweight belt vacated by former undisputed champion Lennox Lewis, who had just beaten Holyfield over twelve rounds.
In some quite controversial circumstances, however, Holyfield prevailed against Ruiz — scooping the WBA heavyweight crown, landing a dubious decision win over the Massachusetts native.
With the win, Holyfield would achieve world championship spoils for the final time in his career, and would become the first heavyweight fighter in boxing history to win world championship gold on four separate occasions.
Evander Holyfield’s cruiserweight success
Long before his move to the heavyweight limit back in 1988, Alabama pugilist Holyfield would achieve massive success at the cruiserweight class.
Twice defeating the late Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Ossie Ocasio, as well as Ricky Parkey during his initial run in the division, Holyfield was eventually paired with fellow titleholder Carlos de Leon.
At just 25 years of age, Holyfield would finish de Leon with an eighth round knockout win at Caesars Palace, landing the WBC cruiserweight crown to go with his WBA and IBF gold.