Since it was a match that Lennox Lewis' promoter Panos Eliades had dismissed as "a sham fight for a bogus title", it was perhaps appropriate that an ageing Evander Holyfield staked his claim to the World Boxing Association heavyweight championship in the shadow of La Tour Eiffel in the Las Vegas version of Paris.
In a bout already steeped in controversy through the dubious means by which the title became available, as well as the credentials of the opponent John Ruiz, the 37-year-old Holyfield surpassed Muhammad Ali's record by regaining a heavyweight crown for the fourth time.
Holyfield can call himself a champion having won over 12 rounds at the Paris Hotel and Casino, but the more lasting impact may be that Ruiz established himself as a legitimate player.
"It was highway robbery without a gun," moaned Ruiz after the decision went to Holyfield by margins of 114-113, 114-113 and 116-112. The verdict was greeted by hoots of derision from the crowd of 8,558.
Ruiz, who had handily won the first two rounds, was on his way to winning the third when Holyfield landed a thudding right hand in the final minute of the round. The punch spun Ruiz around and clearly rocked him.
Ruiz grabbed Holyfield in a stranglehold and did not release him over the final 40 seconds of the round.
It scarcely seemed to qualify as a two-point round, yet the judges Duane Ford and Dave Moretti scored it 10-8 for Holyfield. Had they scored it 10-9, the final verdict would have been a majority draw.
Referee Richard Steele appeared to allow Holyfield extraordinary leeway as he repeatedly wrestled Ruiz to the floor, cracking him with the odd elbow and at least one low blow. Ruiz's manager Norman Stone pursued Steele around the ring, shouting "you should be ashamed of yourself."
"Richard Steele came over before the fight and said, `no butts, no low blows, no elbows'," said Ruiz. "All night, butts, elbows and low blows and not a point was taken. I'm surprised he didn't throw a knee at me." Two judges had the fight even entering the final round, but Ruiz caught a stray elbow from Holyfield midway through that probably broke his nose.
Blood streaming from his nostrils, Ruiz inexplicably stopped fighting and spent the final 30 seconds complaining to Steele. He lost the round 10-9 on all three cards.
Asked how he could call himself a true champion, given his two previous defeats against Lewis, Holyfield pointed out that Lewis' first two WBC titles had been acquired in similar circumstances. "He didn't beat Riddick Bowe. He didn't beat Mike Tyson," said Holyfield, who still hopes for a third fight against Lewis.
