Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 47

Sports Sunday, August 13, 2000 C3 Austin American-Statesman Football Aging Holyfield rallies to win fourth championship Rattlers win first real test nose. -Referee Richard Steele ruled it a slip, however, though Holyfield went on to dominate the latter part of the round. The 28-year-old Ruiz (36-4) followed through on his promise to take the fight to Holyfield (37-4-1), Ruiz keeps WBA title bout close but loses final round in close decision By Tim Dahlberg Associated Press LAS VEGAS Evander Holy-field, showing signs of age and ring wear, battled back in the late rounds Saturday to win a unanimous decision over John Ruiz and become the first boxer in history to win portions of the heavyweight title four times. At the age of 37, Holyfield displayed only flashes of the fighter who beat the likes of Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe, going 12 rounds before winning the WBA title vacated by Lennox Lewis. Holyfield, fighting a boxer who had never been in a title fight before, won by only one point on two ringside scorecards and four points on a third.

He fought best in the final round, when he battered a tiring Ruiz to seemingly pull the fight out. "I knew Ruiz was tough and would give everything he had," Holyfield said. "There was no doubt I won the fight." There was plenty in the mind of Ruiz and his corner, who saw his first shot at winning a title fade away when Holyfield took over in the 12th round. "It was highway robbery without a gun," said Ruiz, a 4-to-l at least in the early rounds. Holyfield had trouble early and was consistently beaten to the punch by Ruiz.

Most of the rounds were marred by holding by both fighters, although Holyfield appeared to do most of it. "Holyfield threw everything at me, including elbows and heads," Ruiz said. "I am surprised he didn't throw a knee at me." Holyfield, who came into the fight off the draw and loss to Lewis, was given another title chance only because a judge took the WBA title away from Lewis for failing to defend against Ruiz. It was the fourth time Holyfield has been crowned heavyweight champion, although his performance showed that he may have trouble fighting long enough to pursue his goal of becoming the undisputed champion again. Lewis had mocked the fight all week, calling Ruiz "Johnny Louise" and saying the public would not recognize Holyfield as a legitimate champion.

"The people know there's only one real heavyweight champion," Lewis said earlier. "It's not what people say," Holyfield said. "I am the WBA champion. He has two belts and I have one." 'Zrrk I Mark J. TerrillAP Evander Holyfield, left, lands a left to John Ruiz, scorecards and four points on a third.

'It was Holyfield, 37, won by only one point on two ringside highway robbery without a Ruiz said. The Associated Press also had Holyfield ahead 114-113. If Ruiz had won the 12th round, he would have won the fight. There were no knockdowns in the fight, although a left hook in the final round by Holyfield seemed to put Ruiz down and caused blood to flow from his But in the. end, it was the ring generalship in his 20th title fight that allowed Holyfield to dominate the final round and pull out the win.

Judge Fernando Biso had Holyfield winning 116-112, while judges Duane Ford and Dave Moretti had him winning 114-113. underdog. "I won the fight and he knows I won the fight." In a fight that was entertaining, but hardly a heavyweight classic, Ruiz exposed Holyfield's deteriorating skills much as Lewis had in a controversial draw and win over Holyfield that made Lewis the undisputed champion. Visit Your Nearest Participating Firestone or Bridgestone Retailer! Lone Stars finish season with loss By Gary Estwick American-Statesman Staff In the Austin Rattlers' brief history, they have gotten accustomed to leading games. Saturday night, though, the Rattlers were the ones with long faces and bowed heads at halftime, as the Dallas Diesel's game plan to slow down Austin worked almost perfectly in the first half But like a beam of light breaking through darkness, the Rattlers were ignited in the second half, starting with a 101-yard kickoff return by fullback Roland Hayes and ending with a 23-9 win at Nelson Stadium.

Austin also took advantage of several bad Diesel punt snaps early in the second half, converting them into nine points. The Rattlers' defense had nine sacks. "This just shows us the kind of defense that we have," said defensive lineman Chance Vrba. "We're surrounded by so many good players." The Diesel was considered by many to be Austin's first real test this season. Coach Bucky Godbolt said a win is a win.

"If the defense didn't come to play, we probably would have lost," he said. "All the (final) scores aren't going to be in the 60s and 70s. Some games are like this. But one team is 3-1, and one is 4-0." The Rattlers had outscored their first three opponents 185-18. Rattlers quarterback Ed Moore completed 12 of 24 passes for 188 yards and a TD.

The Diesel couldn't have scripted a better first-half shutdown of the Austin offense. After Austin's Damion Johnson intercepted quarterback Karl Davis in the end zone on the Diesel's first drive, running back Claude Mathis, who rushed 24 times for 58 yards, fumbled in the end zone for a Dallas safety with 11:05 left in the first quarter. Their 2-0 deficit marked the first time Austin trailed in its three-game history. The Rattlers led 7-2 after Mathis scored from 2 yards with 4:57 remaining in the second. Dallas countered late in the half.

On second and 10, running back Reggie Boyd caught a option pitch from quarterback Edward Randolph on a 42-yard scoring play. Later, after Austin linebacker Gerald Bickham sacked Randolph, the Diesel mishandled a punt snap. Jerrold Smith caught a 18-yard pass from Moore with 12:39 left in the third quarter. The Diesel mishandled another punt snap on its next series, giving the Rattlers another safety. You may reach Gary Estwick at gestwickstatesman.com or 445-3959.

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He played three season at St. Edward's. "I went to the near post and put my head to the ball," Alcala said. "It was Jose's good placement on the cross that allowed me to score." In the 43rd minute, Nicholson found the net again to put the Rattlers ahead for good. The Lone Stars, who finished the season 1-14, had 12 shots on goal, while the Rattlers (13-4) had six.

"That is the story of our sea Tough 2-1 defeat to Rattlers leaves team with 1-14 mark By Marc Baroni American-Statesman Correspondent DEL VALLE The Texas Rattlers already knew they were heading to postseason play prior to Saturday night's game with the Austin Lone Stars, but winning the United Soccer League Division III outright would make their road through the playoffs much smoother. The Rattlers' 2-1 victory at Del Valle High School put the Dallas team one step closer, but the Lone Stars didn't make it easy. Now the fate of the Rattlers are in the hands of New Jersey. "If New Jersey maxes out the last two games (scores three goals in each and wins both), they will win the division, but if not, we win and get a bye through to the semifinals," Rattlers Coach Dick Hall said. Aaron Nicholson scored twice for the Rattlers, with both goals in the first half.

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