RUIZ-JONES POST-FIGHT ANALYSIS

March 2, 2003 - by Bert Sugar

Once in a great while, there's a match-up that's so intriguing, it even gets the most jaded boxing experts excited. Speculation was a verbal volleyball for weeks leading up to the John Ruiz-Roy Jones, Jr. heavyweight championship. Could Jones do what only one man had accomplished in boxing history-to go from middleweight, to light heavyweight, to heavyweight champion? Would Ruiz's 30+ lb. weight advantage be too much for Jones? Could Jones handle a real heavyweight's punching power? Would Jones' speed be enough to overcome Ruiz's bulk? And finally-as the outcome of this fight would prove-is Roy Jones, Jr. really one of boxing's all-time greats?

There was little speculation about what strategy each fighter would employ. Ruiz, the WBA Heavyweight Champion (38-4-1, 27 KOs), would have to fight rough, drive Jones to the ropes, lean on him and tire him out. Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion Roy Jones, Jr. (47-1, 38 KOs) would have to box Ruiz, blind him with hand speed, and duck out of harm's way before the bigger man had time to counter.

Ruiz came out to execute his fight plan immediately, shoving Jones to the ropes in the first round. Jones escaped Ruiz's charge in a fairly even round. Jones was able to fight his fight in the second. The battle lines were mainly in the center of the ring, where Jones could jump in, snap his jab-a punch he rarely bothers with in his light heavyweight bouts-and back out before Ruiz could do any damage. He was able to slither out of Ruiz's clutches near the ropes, and was consistently beating Johnny to the punch.

In the fourth, Jones caught Ruiz with a right uppercut, starting a flow of blood from Ruiz's nose. A big right stunned Ruiz later in the round. Jones was having his way with the heavyweight champ. Ruiz came out with fire in the fifth, trying to force the action, pin Jones to the ropes, and work him with body shots. But despite Ruiz's attempts to win ugly, Jones succeeded in landing the cleaner punches.

Round 8 was Johnny Ruiz's best, with a good dose of rope pressure and his best punch of the fight, a ripping right to Jones' head. But it also served notice to any who've questioned Jones' chin-he can take a heavyweight punch. Roy assumed command in the ninth and tenth, with Ruiz eating his jab, and taking potshots to the midsection.

The fight's most bizarre scene took place between the tenth and eleventh rounds. In an effort to exhort their fighter, Ruiz's corner including manager Norman Stone, tore into their fighter with an expletive-laced barrage that would make a sailor blush. They knew extraordinary efforts were needed to turn Ruiz around, as his title was in serious jeopardy. Roy Jones, Jr. short-circuited any adrenalin Ruiz may have had with a big lead right in the eleventh. The chase continued in the twelfth-Ruiz was desperate for a knockout. But Roy Jones, Jr. could barely contain his smile for the entire round. With ten seconds left, Jones was apart from Ruiz, pumping exultant fists in the air, while Ruiz looked on helplessly, unable to change his destiny. Jones had risen to the challenge, probably his toughest test since fighting James Toney in 1994. A wild celebration ensued in the ring, the crowd acknowledging they had just seen what no one had seen in over 100 years. A middleweight had climbed the ladder to heavyweight, and was now standing at the pinnacle of boxing's most celebrated division.

This was a virtuoso performance, a punishing yet artistically crafted piece of unexpected dominance. Sure Jones made more use of his jab. But he really changed his style very little and forced Ruiz to fight on his terms. His hand-speed was blinding, his punching style as unorthodox as ever, his footwork and movement made him greased-pig elusive on the ropes. His unanimous decision victory proved that his speed was surely a match for heavyweight power, that Roy Jones, Jr. can handle a heavyweight punch, that Roy will stand up to any legitimate boxing challenge.

Jones' win will inspire a new wave of speculation. Will Roy stay a heavyweight? Will he fight another "lighter" heavyweight champion, Chris Byrd, to unify the heavyweight championship? Are his talents sufficient to take on the ultimate challenge-the 6'5", 250 pound champion Lennox Lewis? Or will Roy drop back down to light heavyweight and resume his dominance over that division? In any case, it doesn't seem like anyone from middleweight on up to heavyweight is safe from Roy Jones, Jr. So let the speculation begin. Again.