Chris Byrd is the only alternative, but I think Ruiz was better. Which says a lot about recent US heavyweights, he's still one of the best now.
I think h2h Ruiz outworks Byrd and the longevity going to Ruiz as well. Ruiz has more embarrassing loses (Tua, Jones, Toney) but Chris have more luck in the key wins (Vitaly, Golota).
Gimmee a break. I don't care about alphabet titles. Byrd was better, Rachman was better, and Chamber will definitely be better. Fact is Johnny boy lost just about every time he stepped up. He lost to Valuev, Chagaeve, Jones...He also won a number of questionable decision, the Golota won was a near robbery.
How in God's name is he still one of the best now? Who has he beaten? Every time I pose this simple question Ruiz fan's spincters pucker up faster than a ***** on 100 proof moonshine.
... but, Rahman never won anything significant except the lucky Ko over Lennox and his 2KO loses from Maskaev are as much embarrassing as Ruiz loses, Byrd's win over Golota was kinda robbery too. Chamber's record may be seen very differently after Wlad stop him. I think Brewster may be mentioned here as an alternative however he was short living monster.
Ruiz is not a legimate heavyweight anymore. Let's look at the facts. Over the past five years Ruiz has fought a grand total of 7 times. He lost 3 of those fights: two to Valuev, one to Ruslan. His most impressive victory over the past 5 years was a close decision win over Jameel Mccline. Are you kidding me? The guy is not a viable contender. He's a Don King stooge.
Answer me this simple question: what has John Ruiz done in the past 5 years of his career??????:shock:
I would take a win over the undisputed champion over the world (Lewis) any day of the week for Rachman compared with any of Ruiz's paltry accomplishments.
But that was right at the time Ruiz beat Holyfield, and Ruiz beat Rahman afterwards so you may ask the same question ... what did Rahaman in the time after he Koed Lewis to be better than Ruiz overall?
Nah, I'd say Byrd. Better overall boxer. He was slick and sneaky, and guess what... he actually threw punches. He didn't jab and then hold for a full 12 rounds the way Ruiz does.
byrd. he would have boxed circles around ruiz. just like jones/ruiz. byrd was great for his size. he whipped tua and holyfied. beat good fighters like golata, oquendo, mccline. again ruiz beat those same fighters haha but byrd would beat ruiz. rahman is the one thats overrated. he is a very poor fighter known for one fight.
I don't even know.. The USA heavyweights have been so weak lately.. all we have is an old holyfield :-/ Though, I heard Tommy Morrison has plans to fight later this month. Riddick bowe also may make a comeback according to some youtubers. Other then that, I guess Ruiz deserves to be the best USA fighter 'sides Holyfield.
Exactly. Byrd is definitely better, and actually I would disagree and say Rahman is better. At least he could punch a bit and has a definitive win over a great fighter. Ruiz cheated in every fight he ever had above the journeyman level. Excessive holding is against the rules of boxing, period. Why did he do this? Because he never had world class skills. He HAD to cheat to "win," and his connections with King allowed him to get away with it! If the rules had been properly enforced against Ruiz he would have been DQd in virtually every fight he had at the world class level.
