Did John Ruiz improve much between the Tua KO and his title reign?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fury's Love Handles, Mar 21, 2020.


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  1. Fury's Love Handles

    Fury's Love Handles Mrkoolkevin Full Member

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    I know that a lot of people judge a fighter's prime by eyeballing the results on his boxrec page but for those who've actually watched Ruiz's fight, did the version who held the belt in the early 2000s seem like a substantially better fighter than the mid-90s version who Tua smoked in a matter of seconds? If so, when did the transformation occur and to what do you credit it?
     
    Fury's Love Handles, Mar 21, 2020
    Fury's Love Handles, Mar 21, 2020
    #1
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  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Enormously I would suggest.
     
    janitor, Mar 21, 2020
    janitor, Mar 21, 2020
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  3. JC40

    JC40 Boxing fan since 1972 banned Full Member

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    Yep, he gained experience and honed his craft well post the Tua knockout, even if he was a particularly ugly mauling, smothering , clinching type.

    Cheers.
     
    JC40, Mar 21, 2020
    JC40, Mar 21, 2020
    #3
  4. Fury's Love Handles

    Fury's Love Handles Mrkoolkevin Full Member

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    I haven't seen many of his other Tua-era fights—does he look like a much different fighter compared to his later fights? Did he grab and maul less as a younger fighter?
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2020
    Fury's Love Handles, Mar 21, 2020
    Fury's Love Handles, Mar 21, 2020
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  5. BoxingDialogue

    BoxingDialogue Active Member Full Member

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    idk but that ko will always be hilarious.
     
    BoxingDialogue, Mar 21, 2020
    BoxingDialogue, Mar 21, 2020
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  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    He was a local level novice, who would enter the rankings five years later.

    If he didn't improve considerably, then he was wasting his time!
     
    janitor, Mar 21, 2020
    janitor, Mar 21, 2020
    #6
  7. Charlietf

    Charlietf Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Lol. And you would insinuate that he would have a chance against Tua right?
     
    Charlietf, Mar 21, 2020
    Charlietf, Mar 21, 2020
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  8. Fury's Love Handles

    Fury's Love Handles Mrkoolkevin Full Member

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    Descriptions like that can be misleading. Ruiz was a highly decorated amateur who had been fighting since he was 7. He wasn't some cowhand who first picked up a pair of gloves when he was 18.

    Fighters don't just enter the rankings as soon as they're ready. And if he doesn't run into Tua in '96, who's to say he doesn't break into the rankings much sooner?
     
    Fury's Love Handles, Mar 21, 2020
    Fury's Love Handles, Mar 21, 2020
    #8
  9. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Nah. Just well managed and well matched

    If Tua went with Don King he probably wins a title at some point.

    Too bad Tua didn't get a chance to face Ruiz again.
     
    Saad54, Mar 21, 2020
    Saad54, Mar 21, 2020
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  10. JC40

    JC40 Boxing fan since 1972 banned Full Member

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    For starters I reckon Ruiz started utilising modern sports " science " as he became definitely became a stronger and heavier fighter post the Tua fight. He weighed 219 vs Tua yet weighed 232 vs Holyfield in their third fight and all the extra weight was muscle.

    If you look at Ruiz career prior to facing Tua he had basically been fed a steady diet of club fighters, regional types and underachievers.

    I dont think he improved an incredible amount but any fighter who works hard should keep improving up to a point and I believe Ruiz did so.

    He deffo grabbed and mauled less prior to the Tua fight as he didnt have to against the kind of opponents he was facing.

    Cheers Mate.
     
    JC40, Mar 21, 2020
    JC40, Mar 21, 2020
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  11. WAR01

    WAR01 In the 7.2% Full Member

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    He learnt to fight less to survive longer.
     
    WAR01, Mar 21, 2020
    WAR01, Mar 21, 2020
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  12. steve1990

    steve1990 Active Member Full Member

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    He adopted the clinching style and faking low blows after it's what helped him beat Jimmy Thunder. Also he was matched up with tomato cans post Tua pre Holyfield.
    With the exception of Jimmy Thunder and shot Tony Tucker his resume post Tua and pre Holyfield is terrible and shouldn't have qualified him to be a number 1 contender.
     
    steve1990, Mar 21, 2020
    steve1990, Mar 21, 2020
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  13. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He added the grab to the jab, and the rest was glorious boxing history.
     
    catchwtboxing, Mar 22, 2020
    catchwtboxing, Mar 22, 2020
    #13
  14. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    He didn't improve much.
    Mostly he cheated a bit more and he became one of Don King's last hopes in the heavyweight division which helped him
     
    Unforgiven, Mar 22, 2020
    Unforgiven, Mar 22, 2020
    #14
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  15. West of Hollywood

    West of Hollywood Active Member Full Member

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    I give him credit for learning to adapt and go forward with his career after a devastating knock-out. He made the best out of what he had and no one can really fault him for that. He was a decent heavyweight and had a good career.
     
    West of Hollywood, Mar 22, 2020
    West of Hollywood, Mar 22, 2020
    #15
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