[2] On an 17 April bill at Madison Square Garden, John Ruiz & Chris Byrd successfully defence both of their versions of the heavyweight title.

[3][4] Don King claimed at a pre fight press conference that the winners of the two heavyweight title bouts would advance in an elimination tournament to unify the division.

Promoter Don King speaking to Larry Merchant in the ring after the bout said that he would prefer to match Rahman with Vitali Klitschko over either Ruiz or Byrd.

This prompted Neumann to expel Stone from the corner and send him back to the dressing room, something that HBO's Harold Lederman stated was unprecedented in his memory.

Despite his desire for a rematch with Byrd, it be announced in December that Golota would be matched against WBO belt holder Lamon Brewster, while Ruiz would face James Toney.