Razor Ruddock vs Frank Bruno

I agree.

 

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I don't disagree that Ruddock did better, but Bruno gave up? Have you watched the first fight? He gave Tyson his hardest fight up until that point In my opinion.

 

By the time Bruno fought Bugner though he was a level past the jumbo debacle. He had the experience and seasoning from the Witherspoon fight. There really wasn’t many fighters good enough to live with him. His ramrod jab was an obstacle that only a really fast fighter like a prime Tyson could negotiate. I just don’t see Ruddock managing to get off at all - much like Lewis couldn’t. And the way mike weaver had Ruddock all over the place from a left hook, together with Ruddocks earlier implosion with Jako tells me when struck Ruddock really didn’t have whiskers enough to last into the period wher Bruno always faded after 6 rounds or so.

Bruno was a world class 6 round fighter. Only truly great fighters could beat him within that period or last past that point and take him late.

 

This doesn't appear to be a fair analysis. If your going to dismiss Bruno`s knockout losses as either {pre Prime} and or {past prime} then at the same time use fights {Weaver for example} where Ruddock got hurt and still cameback to win as a knock against him? He was still pretty green against Mike Weaver and boxed his way to a decision. The Jaco fight? Really?

 

With Ruddock, a lot depends on a) whether he was ruined by the Tyson fights and b) What level you think Tyson was at the time.

You can easily subscribe to the narrative that Ruddock went toe to toe for 19 rounds with one of the most feared punchers in history, and was never the same fighter afterwards. That guy would have to be favoured against Bruno.

On the other hand, Ruddock could have been flattered by two wars with a declining Tyson coming off the loss to Douglas, and his abilities were put into perspective when he was destroyed by Lewis. Bruno had success against fighters better than Ruddock, and would stand a good chance of either outboxing him behind the jab, or taking Ruddock out in a shootout.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, which makes this a very difficult fight to call. The suspicion is that at some point Ruddock is able to land the smash, and that he wouldn't let Bruno off the hook. He may have to get off the floor, or be behind on points a la Bonecrusher, but at some point he takes advantage of an opening and lands the bomb. It's easier to see Ruddock weathering a storm against Bruno that it is the other way round, and while he was very heavy-handed Bruno doesn't have an extensive knockout record against world class fighters. The Coetzee blowout aside, it took him a while to get rid of the likes of Truth Williams, Coetzer and even an aged Bugner. I don't see him doing a demolition job against a prime Ruddock, and I can't see him lasting 10/12 rounds unscathed either.

 

Career timing would be crucial. The Bruno before Coetzee would lose to the best Ruddock and the Ruddock that Morrison beat loses to the best Bruno.

Best for best I think we need to look at how Both fared against Lewis and Tyson. I think Bruno fought a better Tyson and that they both fought an equal version of Lewis.

Bruno and Ruddock were both at their best for Tyson. They both lost. But I think Bruno fought a better Tyson.

 

Me too. Hard to call. My hunch is Ruddock was more durable and would end up the winner, down on points.

Bruno can win, but he'd better be in shape and focused. Bruno vs McCall...Bruno nearly out of gas won.

 

Both guys could really punch hard but Ruddock was much more gifted in terms of speed, reflexes and athleticism. He had better stamina as well. But Ruddocks fundamentals were just so damn poor that a guy who was just as tall/rangy but shot his punches through the middle like Bruno should be able to get him. Prime Ruddock had good legs and mobility and if bruno chases him and started bending forward and reaching with his right hand(especially in the later rounds when he tires) he could get his head uppercutted clean off

 

I'm glad i'm not the only one seeing thru this rubbish.

 

Ruddock was FAR better against Tyson.

 

I like them both and think this would be a great fight. Razor is more durable, and to me this makes the difference. I pick him by late stoppage.

 

But Tyson was far better against Bruno.

And Bruno was FAR better against Lewis.

 

Every time Bruno stepped up to the level of a Razor Ruddock he was stopped.

Except for when he beat a shell of McCall to claim the WBC belt.

You have to fancy Razor to catch Bruno, and Bruno to go into his frozen shell and get stopped on his feet.

 

Was he? Many put it down as proof he may have been becoming unfocused.

Tyson soaked up heaps vs Ruddock and was in great shape. He really came to fight. He walked thru shots that had been leaing others unconscious. Shots that would have rendered Bruno finished.

At any rate Bruno was still very capable in the second Tyson fight against a much lesser Tyson than Ruddock faced.