As much as I'd like to say Tommy does great here and embarrasses that big sloth John Ruiz, i think realistically Ruiz's decent chin, and tendancy to clinch other fighters to death would be the downdall of the much smaller Hearns
No he can't. Jones had the perfect style for a smaller man to beat John Ruiz. Hearns may actually get knocked out here.
I think Tommy was too good for Ruiz. Just like against Andries, Hearns picks him apart and stops him in the late rounds. We are talking about John Ruiz. I never thought he was any good.
Ruiz would be able to take the right hand; realistically that would only be a factor for the first two rounds if at all. Then Hearns would have to stay away and survive enough to do enough to win rounds. That is really unlikely because even at 147 and 160 Tommy was not very durable. Every time Ruiz landed the fight would be on the verge of ending. Probably a 2-4 round fight and a very ugly ko.
Hearns was durable enough at 175 which was 30 pounds above welt. and he beat Virgil Hill and Dennis Andries for titles two times. Ruiz is an open fighter and not a good one, which is why Jones and Toney handpicked him. They did not want to take on the real champion Lennox Lewis. Tommy in his prime was a sharp shooting puncher, not just the right but his jab and left to the body. I see this very similar to the Andries fight because of quality.
Ruiz was not that good. Tommy was a welt to 175 pounder, but Ruiz? Hearns took a durable guy in Andries and made him limited and won easily. It is about quality and who they are fighting. Ruiz did not use his size which is why Jones and Toney fought him. Tommy would not beat a guy like Lennox or Klithcko or Tyson.