Editing Evander Holyfield (section)

===Holyfield–John Ruiz trilogy===
{{Main|Evander Holyfield vs. John Ruiz|Evander Holyfield vs. John Ruiz II|John Ruiz vs. Evander Holyfield III}}
In 2000, Lewis was stripped of the WBA belt for failing to meet lightly regarded Don King fighter [[John Ruiz]], having fought Ruiz's conqueror [[David Tua]], and the WBA ordered Holyfield and Ruiz to meet for that organization's world title belt. Holyfield and Ruiz began their trilogy in August of that year, with Holyfield making history by winning on a controversial, but unanimous 12-round decision to become the first boxer in history to be the World Heavyweight Champion four times. Holyfield blamed his lackluster performance on a perforated (broken) eardrum.<ref>[http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2001/Mar-01-Thu-2001/sports/15546647.html ''Las Vegas Review-Journal'': Sports]. Reviewjournal.com (March 1, 2001). Retrieved on October 3, 2011.</ref>

Seven months later, in March 2001, it was Ruiz's turn to make history at Holyfield's expense when he surprisingly managed to knock Holyfield down and beat him by a 12-round decision to become the first [[Hispanic]] ever to win a Heavyweight title. On December 15 of that year, Holyfield challenged Ruiz for the title, in an attempt to become champion again. The fight was declared a draw and John Ruiz maintained the WBA Championship title.