Evander Holyfield vs. Donavan Ruddock

ruddock ducked evander for the better money in a tyson showdown

 

The fact that Tyson had to beat Ruddock twice - the highest rated fighter in the division other than himself - to get a title shot is absolutely preposterous. Tyson deserved a shot on the strength of the dominant run he'd had through the division alone. He didn't need to fight anybody to deserve it and was arguably the most popular athlete on the planet. Yeah, his own promoter screwed him over too.

 

The Old Foreman who outdid Ruddock and beat the lineal champion?

Also, I don't detect any bias or agenda from your post. Do you detect any sarcasm in mine?

 

His title reign was pretty poo. Although it's kind of cool that Holmes won about as many rounds in going the distance with Holy as he lasted with Tyson. If Bert Cooper can have you in a bad way that early in a fight, somebody was fixing to get ****ed in November 1991 because I don't give a **** what he was a puncher, it was at a level far below Mike Tyson. And he's rattlesnake pissed off.

No bias. :hi:

 

I won't bestow any bias either.

In 1989, Ruddock fought a 36 year old Bonecrusher, who was at a career high weight, off for 12 months and hadn't beaten anybody since 1986. Smith very nearly had Ruddock out of there in the second round. He also lasted a fraction of the time that Holyfield did against Lennox Lewis, even though Razor was prime and Holy wasn't.. But hey, if Cooper could rock Holy, then why should any of this matter?

 

Power is the last thing to go, nobody ever accused Ruddock of being granite and Holyfield was a different fighter stylistically and physically in 1991 than he was against Lennox in 1999 when he used so much of his energy dealing with Lewis' size that he couldn't fight full 3-minute rounds to give himself a chance at winning.

 

And I don't think Holyfield could be stopped with anything short of a sledgehammer to the temple before his health issues.

 

Holyfield would win a clear decision or stop Ruddock late... I'll go wth W12 for Holyfield.

Ruddock knocked out past prime versions of Bonecrusher and Dokes. He also lost twice to Tyson (LKOby7 (stopped early) and L12). He was not better than Holyfield

 

Holyfield pretty handily

 

Holyfield by one sided TKO.

Faster hands, better coordination and much better boxing skills.

Razor`s lack of balance always hurt him agianst the A level fighters in the heavyweight division. When he telegraphed that left hand he left himself soo wide open for counters.

Evander could counter him to death.

 

This has been discussed in other threads relating to the heavyweight title in the mid-late 80's, 90's and through Tyson's exile.

Lewis was said to have refused a Ruddock rematch on the big stage because he knew the risk of fighting a guy he beat so easily who had handled him in the amateurs. Ruddock wanted revenge, Lewis wanted none. Bowe, Holyfield, and Foreman wanted no part of Ruddock and his left hook/uppercut smash. They all knew fighting a guy with his power was a needless risk that hurts the chance of major pay days. I remember interviews about potential matches against Ruddock that were on the table with some of those guys but never happened at that time.

As for the thread? I think Ruddock would finish Holyfield where Bert Cooper didn't. The patient, disciplined Ruddock that is. Unfortunately this version of Ruddock was rare because most of the time he didn't bring his signature jab with him to the fights. He relied too much on the smash and often forgot he had a right hand. Ruddock was dangerous and powerful with both hands but had lots of moments where he was wild and careless. This version of Ruddock loses by decision to Holyfield or gets stopped late.

 

great fight. Even a guy with Evander's chin has to be careful of Ruddock's left hook. That would be a nerve racking fight for Evander's corner. I say Evander wins by stoppage in the late rounds.

 

Your status as a total ****ing idiot has again been confirmed!