MASHANTUCKET (Connecticut), Dec 16: John Ruiz retained his World Boxing Association heavyweight title with a draw after 12 rounds against Evander Holyfield in an ugly fight on Saturday.

The fight featured almost as much wrestling as boxing as the two men grappled and pushed each other around the ring, especially in the first few rounds.

The first round caused some controversy when Holyfield broke Ruiz’s nose, which Ruiz’s corner claimed had been done by an elbow that the four-time former world champion often held pressed against Ruiz’s throat.

Holyfield countered by complaining to referee Steve Smolger, who had his hands full trying to prise the fighters apart, about Ruiz’s holding.

Holyfield appeared to have an exhausted-looking Ruiz in trouble in the 11th and 12th rounds, but could not finish him off despite Ruiz, who at 29 is 10 years younger than Holyfield, literally hanging on in the last round.

The 10th round was the most exciting of the fight when Holyfield hammered Ruiz into the corner with combinations to the head.

Ruiz then spun out of the corner, landed hard punches of his own and the two men proceeded to fight toe-to-toe to the cheers of the crowd of 4,200.

Judge Julie Lederman scored the fight 116-112 for Holyfield, Don O’Neill had it 115-113 for Ruiz, and Tommy Kaczmarek scored it even at 114-114.

“I definitely feel I won. It took me a while to get off but I did. I was disappointed. I wanted a knockout,” Ruiz said. “He caught me with a good shot (late in the fight), but I kept coming. I fought his fight.”

Holyfield added: “Of course, I feel as though I won. But when it goes to the judges, anything can happen.”

Asked if he would retire, Holyfield said: “I don’t quit and I will not quit.”

This was the third fight between the two men, who split the previous two bouts. Ruiz is now 37-4-1 and Holyfield is 37-5-2.

Ruiz is in line to fight the WBA’s expected mandatory challenger, little-known Kirk Johnson. Neither Ruiz, his corner, nor promoter Don King would commit to seeking that fight.

The big prize is the chance to unify the heavyweight division by fighting for the other two major titles, the World Boxing Council and the International Boxing Federation crowns.

Lennox Lewis holds those two titles and there are plans for him to fight Mike Tyson in April.

Holyfield insists he will continue to fight because he wants to become the undisputed champion.

“I can’t get mad at the decision. I did all I could and deserved to win but now I just have to go back to the gym and work even harder,” said Holyfield whose purple trunks on Saturday had “overcomer” written on the waistband.

“I’d be living in the ghetto if I didn’t overcome.”

American Tim Austin retained his International Boxing Federation bantamweight title with a unanimous decision after 12 rounds over Ratanachai Vorapin of Thailand Saturday.

Austin, 30, was too quick and strong for Vorapin, landing more punches on his opponent, who absorbed Austin’s punishing jabs for nearly the entire fight. There were no knockdowns.

Austin, who won the title in 1997, is now 24-0-1.

Vorapin, 30, a former junior bantamweight champion, is 40-6.

The three judges scored the fight 115-112, 118-109 and 117-110.—Reuters