Jonny Ruiz in the 1990's vs. Foreman, Holmes, Mercer, Morrer, McCall, and Morrison.

Classic post.

 

He has a chance to upset all of them. I'd pick him against Mercer and McCall.

Ruiz was a massively canny operator who knew how to win fights against all odds.

 

I see a definite edge for Ruiz against Morrison and Foreman. Morrison had his hands full with Hipp and Purrity. Foreman struggled with Stewart among others. I think Ruiz is too crafty for them. And Holmes might just be too old for Ruiz's work rate.

 

People laud Jack Johnson for performances where he did "just enough to win". The same folks lionize Hopkins and Burley and Johnson for being spoilers and pulling "old veteran moves".

Ruiz was a master on their level.

 

Hell no.

Oquendo was premature, but he turned his back after getting rocked, so only his self to blame.

Johnson was done in that fight for one thing, he was down 3 times in Round 9, he had no legs from that short right, was falling all over the place. Cortez actually gave him a break by not appearing to count any, and he got himself dqed right after, despite being instructed to stop throwing to the body by his corner. He wanted out.

Ruiz clearly beat Holyfield in the 2nd match, and Rahman. No controversy.

 

I could see him winning those as well. Ditto Moorer, though that'd be stylistically the hardest one for Ruiz to master.

They all had their weaknesses which Ruiz could exploit.

 

Why stop there - there are more than just these 6 from the '90s who could beat him.

He could beat an out of shape Mercer, ala the Mercer who lost to Jesse Ferguson. That's about it.

Focused, in shape Mercer stops him.

Morrison would stop in the first round a la Tua.

Holmes would outpoint him in a stinker

Foreman would keep in away with the jab and stop him late

Moorer would utilize his significant hand speed advantage to punish him. Late stoppage as well

McCall would outlast him for a close points win.

Early or mid 90s Holyfield would punish him for a mids round tko.

Tyson would stop him in the first round.

Bowe would batter him senselsess within 3 rounds

Lewis would stop him in the mid rounds.

Faded but still slick 90-93 Tony Tubbs would outpoint him

Prime '96 Golota would easily outpoint him or stop him late

 

He didn't just have an ugly style, he was very carefully matched after the Tua blowout loss.

The names he did beat he caught at the perfect time - Rahman, Holyfield.

Others, like Oquendo and Johnson were severely limited.


Anyone with a combination of good speed and power would greatly trouble Ruiz. So would anyone with an abundance of one or the other.

 

Oh, and Ike would stop him in the mid rounds.
Byrd would win a close decision. Byrd was fast but didn't have the power to hurt even a mediocre chinned Ruiz.

 

That's a nice story with imaginary match-ups that you have Ruiz losing.

I have another story and in my story Ruiz was the 2 time WBA champ beating the great Evander Holyfield, the great Tony Tucker and the near great Andrew Golota among other top heavies like Johnson and Oquendo. But the difference is that my story is real and not imaginary.

 

Byrd didn't knock guys out but hitting someone in the face hurts. Byrd hurt and backed up the likes of Vitali Klitschko and David Tua, and visibly wobbled Golota, who actually got away with a rope grab in one instance to stay on his feet.

 

If Morrison stopped him in one, it would not only be Tommy's best first round stoppage, it would be the most noteworthy ko of his entire career. It wouldn't happen.

 

That's absurd. Holyfield was past his best, but still a force in the division. Ruiz fought Holyfield 3 times in between two brilliant performances: Lewis II and Rahman. Ruiz arguably bested him twice, easily having the most dominant performance of the trilogy in their second meeting.

Rahman had just boxed your beloved Tua's ears off when Ruiz beat him, and would still go on to have two of his best performances against Meehan and Toney.

 

Focused in shape Mercer couldn't beat Ferguson convincingly either. It was an unpopular split decision, the unofficial television card had Ferguson winning by a point, they were quite taken back by what they were seeing. Anyway you cut it, Mercer did not look very hot against the seasoned spoiler. My money on this fight would be Ruiz all the way.

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You need to add in tiny print..."in 1996"