I'd be routing for Hide, which isn't something I'd say often. But I think John stops him late, after one of the most boring exhibitions of male hugging we have the privilege of witnessing
Hide hit harder, had faster hands and much faster feet, ima say hide wins by stoppage mid to late rounds
Herbie and early. I do not like Ruiz against the hitters. Not the way he walks in so basic---left jab and his shoulder. I think Hide's handspeed early has Ruiz walking straight into a right hand he does not see.
An early ko from Hide imo. Hides catches him coming in straight out and drops him. I'll say 2 rounds.
Ugly fight, which is what you'd expect from ol John, but he has an opponent whose roughly the same level of ability, accomplishment, and size as himself. Unfortunately for Ruiz, Hide had lateral movement, the strength to keep up with him in the clinch, and good power. He broke down Tony tucker in just 2 rounds, so Hide blitzing and stopping Ruiz isnt out of the question. It could also become a long drawn out mud fight if Ruiz has his way, but I'd still lean toward Hide.
I’m going against the grain here. Hide might overall have the greater gifts, but I just don’t think he has as much substance as Ruiz. Hide’s chin doesn’t measure up to Ruiz’s, he was fragile to say the least, and there isn’t that much difference in hand speed. I think Ruiz would stop him before half way.
Ruiz is way in front of Hide in terms of accomplishment. Hide has nothing for a resume. He beat Michael Bentt.
Ruiz is more famous for getting outboxed by former middleweight roy jones than anything else in his career. His best wins are Rahman, washed up Golota, and an aging shopworn Holyfield. He lost more than he won against the biggest names he faced. David Tua massacred him in 1 round. The same aging Holyfield beat him. Ruiz lost to Chagaev and Valuev and even lost to fat ass James toney (i dont care what drugs they claim toney was on, a heavyweight champion has no business getting taken to school by an obese 5'10 36 year old ex middleweight). Then got beat up by david haye in his last fight. Hide doesn't have an "amazing" resume but its funny trying to put a guy like Ruiz on a pedestal on comparison when he has more losses than wins for his biggest fights. That's why i feel overall theyre not that far apart. I factor both resume and h2h and them being roughly the same size makes it a decent matchup. And hide has more than an enough power to even the odds even if for some reason you dont feel they're on the same level.
Hide was summarily knocked unconscious whenever he stepped up. Ruiz beat Holyfield, Oquendo, Kirk Johnson, and Rahman, and drew with Golota. These two do not have similar accomplishments.