Jose Ribalta: I Boxed A Legend…Mike Tyson. + Likes NBA Athletes more than NFL for box

By Scoop Malinowski
Just look at all these heavyweight names Jose Ribalta has boxed…Chris Byrd, Vitali Klitschko, Razor Ruddock, Larry Donald, Axel Schulz, Tony Tubbs, Larry Holmes, Michael Dokes, Frank Bruno, Bruce Seldon, Tim Witherspoon, Leon Spinks, Bonecrusher Smith, Marvis Frazier, Pierre Coetzer, and Mike Tyson.


Ribalta, 22-3-1, faced 25-0 Mike Tyson at the Trump Plaza hotel in Atlantic City on August 17, 1986. The Cuban-American actually gave the ferociously intimidating Tyson a memorable, tough battle, showing no fear and lasting until being stopped in the 10th round. Tyson, of course, was a terror back then, and just months away from capturing the WBC Heavyweight title from Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas by second-round KO.


Ribalta discusses his experience of competing against the prime version of perhaps the most explosive heavyweight champions in history…


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BoxingInsider: Did Tyson try to intimidate you?

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BoxingInsider: Have you crossed paths with Tyson since?

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After losing to Tyson, Ribalta continued to box until 1999 when he lost his last fight by KO to Razor Ruddock in West Virginia. Ribalta says, he was set up by his manager Mike Acri, as Ruddock was a late replacement for his original opponent, though Ribalta did earn an extra $10,000 for accepting Ruddock on such late notice. His final ring record was 38-17-1 (27 KO’s). Today, now 48, Ribalta lives in Miami Gardens, FL and works with autistic people at a group home. He says he would still like to box, particularly Tyson Fury in England because though he is good he does a lot of things wrong. Ribalta also has aspirations and the knowledge to train a heavyweight prospect boxer to the heavyweight title.

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http://www.boxinginsider.com/headlines/jose-ribalta-i-boxed-a-legend-mike-tyson/

 

Ribalta is 6'5 and was made to look smaller because Tyson attacked his body with vicious combination punching...which caused Jose to worry and lower down to protect. Ribalta was game throughout. Good showing.