Boxing: Holyfield-Ruiz set for China showdown

Evander Holyfield and WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz will fight in Bejing on August 4.

It will be the third contest between the two fighters in a year.

The bout, the first world heavyweight title fight in China, was announced by promoter Don King.

King and the fighters will leave for China on Tuesday to visit the fight venue in the Chinese capital and tour the country.

Holyfield beat Ruiz on points in August. Ruiz then took the title by a unanimous decision on March 3.

King originally planned to have the fight in China on June 30, but delayed the bout after Holyfield lost to Ruiz.

Holyfield regards the bout as a step in his effort to gain the undisputed heavyweight title.

"There's a lot of opportunities for everybody," he said. "John Ruiz is not the favourite. Rahman is not the favourite. They never considered me the favourite. So it's wide open for a new undisputed heavyweight champion of the world."

Hasim Rahman knocked out Lennox Lewis in fifth round in South Africa on April 21 to win the WBC and IBF heavyweight titles.

Holyfield, Ruiz and Rahman were at ringside on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden for Felix Trinidad's fifth-round victory over William Joppy for the WBA middleweight title.