Could Razor Ruddock have been a world champ had he come along later than he did..?

I don't know. He seemed to abandon boxing and just got all out trying to land that big left hand to knock his man out.
I think Wladimir Klitschko might just jab him and jab him in typical boring fashion, and hurt Ruddock with an occasional right.

Sure, if Maskaev and Peter and Ruiz, Byrd, Valuev and Haye etc. can hold "world titles" obviously Ruddock could too.
Ironically, it would mean a lot less than going 12-rounds with Tyson, and getting obliterated in an eliminator for Holyfield's undisputed title by Lennox Lewis.

 

Yes I think he has a good shot as long as Lewis is out of the picture. I dont think he beats either Klit brother for sure, but he has a better shot as well as possibly picking up the WBA belt from Haye.

 

A prime Ruddock has NO CHANCE of getting Haye in the ring with him.

 

Like pick up an alphabet belt? Sure, he wouldn't be the worse to pick up a belt with the right timing.

But Ruddock was most certianly not some great talent victimized by an unreasonable era. He was held back by his own poor habits and inconsistencies in the ring. A fighter can only bank on questionable durability, mental toughness, and one punch power for so long, it takes more than that to have any type of long term success against the elite. I think the versions of Tyson and Lewis he faced were pretty vulnerable as is, he just didn't give himself a chance by fighting stupid.

 

I think he could have. He was fairly durable and had good size and great power.

Undisputed?
With his punch? Any given Saturday it's possible even if it isn't likely.

Alpha Champ?
Definitely. He could have been an alpha champ from 2000 onwards.

 

If he was in this division over the last 5 years i dont see him having too much trouble . Obviously K2 may be able to outbox him. There have been much worse guys with a belt than Ruddock.

 

i cant see why not? I liked watching Ruddock. I could see him possibley KO'ing Wlad but having his work cut out agaianst vitali. Haye would be like jesse owens if he got into the ring with razor

 

You nailed it Mongoose, good post!

I only disagree about Ruddock's talent, because he could have been great. I've said all along that his jab, that earned him his "Razor" nickname was comparable to Larry Holmes. He beat Lewis in the amateurs, but took him way too lightly in the pros. Had Morrison hurt and nearly out, but couldn't finish him, succombing to asthma complications. Against Tyson, both times he tried to load up on the smash without utilizing any of his boxing skills, despite being stopped early by Richard Steele the first time.

 

ruddock would have had no problem winning a world title now i think hed have beaten haye and his punching power would have given him a good shot against vlad not sure about vitali though he can take a punch .

 

I concur with a few of the different perspectives already posted on this thread,

On one hand, I believe that Donoven "Razor" Ruddock could have been a solid force and perhaps even a fragment belt holder anytime over the past 5-7 years, had his prime spanned during such time. On the otherhand, I also feel that some of his flaws and limitations would have prevented him from being the very best, or even staying near the top of the division very long... I wouldn't pick him to beat Wladimir Klitschko anytime after 2004, with Manny in his corner, and while I'd give prime Razor a shot at beating the current aged Vitali, its not something I'd favor him to do even at this stage.. He might have beaten David Haye, but I can't bank on it, because we haven't seen either man in against someone of the other's description, and both made a name by beating diminished opponents.. I think Ruslan Chagaev, John Ruiz, Oleg Maskaev and Sam Peter were recent champions that I might have favored Ruddock to beat..

 

Yes, I believe he could have easily been a HW champ/titlist in the past years. But, Ruddock is well known a respected for having two wars with Tyson and Koing some past Hw champs.

 

Me too. :good

Ruddock was shot, very badly damaged goods both mentally & physically when he fought Prime Morrison, yet he gave him a brutal war, floored him & almost got a KO.

 

Probably. It wasn't only his limitations as a fighter that set him back. It doesn't help when you have to face Mike Tyson & Lennox Lewis on the road to the title.

Timing and connections of course plays a role in getting alphabet trinkets, look at how many Don King heavyweights have won belts or gotten a number of title shots.

Ruddock, however, was a rather dumb fighter in the ring. I'm not talking about young Ruddock, I'm talking about one I watched from 89-92. He wouldn't set up his punches with a jab. He'd just bomb away. One dimensional slugger. Too bad, because he certainly had physical gifts.

I don't think Ruddock would hold that belt for an especially long time.