Ruiz and history

[HaglerSteelChin]

I agree with the posters who say he was far from the best and also far from the worse. He was a two time champ and fall short to two close fights with Valuev for a third title; i myself thought he won the second. Sure he beat a pass prime EVH but he also beat rahman who knocked Lewis out and also Golota who had Bowe's number until he would get DQ for repeated low blows. I felt he did enought to erase his brutal 18 second loss to Tua.

Ruiz was mundane with the clinching and grabbing but that unorthodox style was what worried some fighters away. Did Lewis duck him? That alone can start a new thread. But look at what people said about Bowe when he threw his WBC belt in the garbage can for Lewis to pick up? You can't say Bowe ducked Lewis and than say Lews didn't duck Ruiz. Lewis loss his WBA belt for failing to comply with his agreement to fight Ruiz and fighting Michael Grant instead. Ruiz won the NJ court action and it was clear that Lewis wanted no part of Ruiz.

Emmanuel Steward said that Ruiz was too boring and wouldn't be a good opponent for Lewis. The fact that Lewis was a sparring partner with Ruiz and also unorthodox might have worried Lewis. Lewis was great but he was KTFO by two medicore HW's Rahman and Mccall.

[mickey malone]

How do you think Haye would do against the 2000 Holyfield?

Tough call..

As a CW and throughout the 90's, I think Holyfield would have beaten David Haye..
I'd say Evander lost 10% after Bowe and a further 10 after Lewis, so i'd probably back Haye against the millennium version..

[Suckmedry]

How do you think Haye would do against the 2000 Holyfield?

2000 Holyfield? Hmm. Prime Evander torches Haye, believe that, but Evander of '00 was pretty shopworn and rounding on age 40.

You know i would still give Evander the advantage. Better technically, better chin even at that stage of his career, far more durable all round, immensely strong.

Haye is good, fast, sharp, hits hard, but wild technique at times, sketchy stamina and an ordinary jaw. He doesn't bring anything in the power department Evander hasn't seen before and would be the same size.


I think Evander lands the better shots, is more consistent throughout, and wins a UD.

[bojangles1987]

Ruiz took advantage of a rather weak era whereas he would usually be no more than a solid contender. Still, he did what he did. I'd say top 40 I guess.