did the 2 tyson fights dull donovan razor uruudock ?

It's possible, and not unlikely.
But there's not much measure it by. Ruddock had not faced any 'live' young fighters before Tyson, he'd fought some has-beens and out-of-shape second-raters, and after the Tyson fights he went back to facing has-beens and fringe contenders until stepping in with an up-and-coming Lennox Lewis.

 

I'd say it is likely.

 

Those fights could not have done him much good, that's for sure.

 

I loved Lewis's performance against Ruddock, it was pretty shocking. But I would go along with the theory that Tyson softened him up. I wouldn't be surprised if those long punches of Lewis where harder than Tyson's, but not by that much surely? There is no way that Lewis beat the same Ruddock Tyson did, Tyson didnt get him out of there after 19 rounds of power punching. I really cant believe Lennox hot so much harder than Tyson it only took him two rounds, that just doesn't make sense.
I guess styles make fights but that was so easy for Lewis, and so tough for a version of Tyson that was still very dangerous. Also look at the damage done to Rudduck after the Tyson rematch, or the one before for that matter, to me he seemed winning to die in there, how many fighters go on with broken jaws, eye sockets, cheek bones? Ruddock was one tough man. That had to have had some effect because his punch resistance was way down after Tyson.

 

If ruddock says in many interviews that the Tyson wars finished him, who are we to disagree?

 

Playing Devil's Advocate, the Bonecrusher fight was highly suggestive that Lewis was always likely to get that outcome. After Lewis, there's little question that his prime was over.

 

Frankly I don't see how fighters of the 1930's and 40's could take countless shlt beatings and be deemed as "prime" opponents when they met Joe Louis, but yet Ruddock was supposed to be "ruined" after only two tough fights with Tyson and by the young age of 27. I think his true condition is often downplayed by Tyson fans who can't fathom Lewis looking that much better against a common opponent. Donoven Ruddock was still under 30 year of age and in incredible shape when he met Lewis in October of 1992. I can remember Larry Merchant describing them both as " two sculpted Adonis's". In addition, Razor had fought two reasonable tuneups since losing to Tyson and was still predicted by many as the potential next champ once the dust had settled.. I think at the end of the day it boils down to two things:

1. Lewis was stylistically a bad fight for Ruddock

2. Ruddock simply wasn't as good as the media made him out to be.

 

I think they did. After the second fight Ruddock had a broken jaw and spent something like two weeks in the hospital. Even if that doesn't do something to you physically (which Id say there was a good chance it did) its still going to take a very special individual to not hold something back the next time you go into the ring.

Magoo compares this to the Louis era but fighters were different then. I don't think that's even a disputable point. I firmly believe fighters were tougher in those eras if nothing else than the simple fact that they had very hard lives. It was the great depression after all and a much harder time even for people who weren't in danger of winding up in the gutter. Ruddock was a millionaire after the two Tyson fights and didn't need to work again. How many of those guys Louis beat the hell out of can say that?

 

I am going to take ruddocks word for it when he says that the Tyson wars finished him and that Lewis got to him at the right time. Tyson's demolition of Bruno was much more comprehensive compared to lucky punch lenni.

 

Tyson hit Ruddock with more powershots than anyone else in his career.

That's bound to take a toll, especially when you look at what Tyson did to other fighters.

And Lewis to his credit, isn't exactly featherfisted himself.

Also, something else which is rarely mentioned is, Ruddock was with a new trainer at the time in Floyd Patterson, Patterson tried to change Ruddocks whole style.

Now how much of this contributed to the Lewis fight, who knows.

 

YES, Tyson beat the **** out of Razor over a long period of time. IMO he never looked close to as dangerous as he was before Tyson. Even during Tyson for brief moments as Razor didn't quit, he was pulverized slowly.

Two good fights :thumbsup

 

When I was a teenager Ruddock was my favorite fighter, after the win over Smith he was absolutely my favorite fighter. I was able to be ringside for a handful of his fights me and two lifelong friends being as we were not quite adults I have to thank my father as he took us he and my uncle. They were massive fight fans as well. Ruddock fought his ass off against Tyson in both fights they both threw some heavy punches! Tyson threw to the body with the most wicked body shots I've seen in over 35 years of watching boxing, absolutely vicious, Ruddock was game, late in that fight he was still landing big shots and really pushing Mike. Many say Tyson never won a tough fight I say bull **** this one was tough as hell!! I absolutely think Tyson finished Razor, I Remeber reading Razor saying it was like Tyson broke something inside him and he was never quite the same. All that being said I stil expected him to handle Lennox Lewis, what a shocking and devastating performance by Lewis. What ever Razor had left Lewis annihilated. I'll always maintain that being as I was so familiar with the Razor, knowing him inside and out and having a keen sense about body language he was either afraid of Lewis or the magnitude of the event because he looks afraid to me he wasn't acting like the Razor who's fights I'd poured over countless times. The addition of Patterson to the corner was an absolute train wreck, I respect Floyd Patterson immensely but that was the wrong guy for Razor just wrong. He'd of done well I believe with a Rooney or an Atlas someone who could help cultivate his deadly offensive tools, not turn him into a boxer..., Jusy my two cents. Two great fights to great wins for Tyson.

 

I agree with everything you wrote except that Atlas would have been good for him. Atlas never saw a fighter he didn't ruin. Emmanuel Steward would have been perfect for Ruddock. Steward loved tall bangers. He would have sharpened up Ruddocks fundamentals and set him loose and I think he would have really done well.

P.S. You are from Cape? Im there all the time! Small world. Im in Cape at least once a month for work.