Describe your stance on John Ruiz and his career.

Boring & Apperantly never ending

 

He might not be the best, but God bless him, he doesn't quit. He always keeps trying and clawing his way up and onward. And he did try to fix his style and fight more entertaining fights.

 

Absolute disgrace to the sport of boxing. A regional fighter of limited ability who used connections with a powerful promoter to get ratings he didn't deserve, titles he would never have won based on his mediocre abilities, and favorable treatment from officials to make possible his constant violation of the basic rules of the sport that enabled him to do this.

Ruiz is exhibit A of everything that's wrong with boxing - rigged rankings, corrupt officials, bogus decisions. He cheated his opponents of their opportunity to win WITHIN the rules, and the fans of the legitimate boxing matches they paid to see. I cannot see how any boxing fan could defend this FRAUD.

 

David - Tua

 

He sucked.

 

Come on, Zak, you like classic boxing. He's a throwback to the good old days of the Mafia controlling the sport. And btw, if any of the guys he fought were that much better than him; they would have found a way to deal with his fouling and beaten him. They didn't, they let him hit and hold, they weren't better than him. The ones who were better beat him (Roy Jones, Chagaev, Valuev-except Jawny actually tried to box clean and fight with Chagaev and Valuev, and put on a respectable show).

 

I'd like to give him credit for what he's achieved with limited ability but the fact is Zakman is competely right and he bores me death.

 

Does this thread serve any other purpose other than giving Zakman a place to vent his frustrations about the bearded warrior, Don King, or corruption in general?

The only reason why John Ruiz existing as a contender/titlist in the HW division for so long could be seen as a positive thing is because Jones ended up getting a HW title and a nice resume win out of it. That's what I'll remember him for the most. It's sad that Holyfield had to waste two years of his life/career training for him. I think that's one of the reasons Zakman hates him so much.

John Ruiz easy UD Jack Dempsey, stoppage not out of the question. It would be interesting to see the poll results on a matchup like that..

 

I think all 4 choices are actually appropriate to some degree. Puts it into perspective how unique he and his career have been.

 

An incredibly boring fighter. But from what I hear, he's an excellent human being who's very involved with his community and various charities.

So I applaud him for taking his limited skillset and physical abilities and achieving multiple heavyweight titles as well as earning some decent paydays against the likes of Jones and Holyfield. Though he was never aesthetically pleasing to watch, he was one of boxing's ultimate overachievers.

 

No, but the Tua fight is enough for me to forgive his bad showings. Whenever I get angry at the way he fights, I just youtube the Tua fight.

 

He was a cheat who abused every rule in the book to go beyond the ordinary status he would otherwise have earned. Personally I don't blame Ruiz. I blame every official who let him get away with his molestation, in spite of public and press outcries to stop it.

There is no way to stop a guy when he plans on the jab and grab. The only way is to play the same game and try to outmuscle him. Of course Ruiz had years to perfect his trash so of course he beat the unsuspecting and unprepared challenger. Anyone who really thinks it's easy to avoid is either sparring with little kids or really is just talking out of their ass.