Holyfield-Ruiz fight set for Dec 15 in U.S.

Evander Holyfield's heavyweight title fight against WBA champion John Ruiz scheduled for Beijing later this month will now take place on December 15 in the United States, a spokesman for promoter Don King confirmed on Tuesday.

The bout for the World Boxing Association title, originally set for August 4 in China and later rescheduled for November 24 after Ruiz suffered a neck injury in training, will take place at the Foxwoods Resort in Ledyard, Connecticut, Alan Hopper, director of public relations for Don King Productions, told Reuters.

King finalized the deal last week, Hopper said.

Following the September 11 attacks on the United States and subsequent warnings of possible future attacks on Americans, officials for HBO, which was to have televised the Beijing bout, said it did not feel comfortable sending its people abroad at this time.

King and Chinese promotional partner Great Wall International Sports Media Company then agreed that the fight would not take place in China this year.

"I am truly disappointed that the wonderful people of China will have to wait to see the first world heavyweight title fight take place in their country," King said in a joint press release issued by his company in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

"September 11 changed everything and boxing is no exception," King said. "Great Wall and I agreed that we need to look for a better time to go to China."

Hopper said King was still quite anxious to bring a heavyweight title fight to China in the future.

"Don doesn't like to not do what he says he's going to do and he wants to stage the first heavyweight title fight in China," Hopper said.

Great Wall Chairman Niu Lixin said in the release that his company still planned to work with King on a future bout.

"Despite the terrorist attacks, we will continue to work with Don King Productions to stage the first world heavyweight title fight in China as well as other sporting events in the future," Niu said.