Ruiz, Byrd defend Nov. 13!

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 04 Aug 2004, 04:35

from fightnews.....

Ruiz, Byrd defend Nov. 13!
In a blockbuster pay-per-view event, John Ruiz and Chris Byrd will defend their heavyweight titles against top contenders Andrew Golota and Jameel McCline.

Golata could go mad against the dirty spoiler Ruiz..... having said that he should be even sharper than he was for Byrd as he has been more active.

McCline will struggle to lay a glove on the 60lb lighter Byrd

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 04 Aug 2004, 04:56

Sounds like an absolute treat... NOT.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 04 Aug 2004, 05:20

Golota is going to kick Ruiz' ass. McCline is going to try and jab and move against Byrd...what a dreadful evening's boxing. Golota hopefully will smash Ruiz up quickly.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 04 Aug 2004, 05:26

God knows what Byrd v McCline will provide but I reckon Golota might upset Ruiz. We haven't seen Ruiz in there with too many good big heavyweights, this could be curtains for him.

McCline has done bloody well here. He goes down miserably against Vlad, gets shaken up by Terrance Lewis and then totally outboxed for 9 rounds against Cedric Boswell. Now if he catches Chris Byrd at the right time he could become IBF world champ. Although it's not worth a whole lot these days is it.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 04 Aug 2004, 05:52

Golota is big, fast handed and aggressive, and a bit stronger than Ruiz, he has the tools to blast him out of there. Ruiz won't be able to outmuscle Golota.

BubiScholz · Post by **BubiScholz** » 04 Aug 2004, 06:04

The Foul Pole has a chance to win, McCline not.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 04 Aug 2004, 06:44

I disagree with the whole negativity of this thread.

I think these are two good fights between four top ten heavyweight. What do you want?

Ruiz v Golota has the circus angle, Ruiz the man who claims low blows when he's hit on the chin versus the foul-pole. Not to mention the fact Golota may just have the perfect antidote to Ruiz's style.

Golota is solid on the inside, stronger and can also spear Ruiz from distance. I think Golota, if motivated, wins this fight. And Golota as champion is a lot more interesting than Ruiz.

Byrd versus McCline is also interesting, two fo the divisions GOOD guys face off. Now Byrd was outboxed by the Klitschkos and McCline has similar physical tools and he wont be hesitant like he was with Briggs and Wladmir because Byrd isn't a puncher or a biiger man.

McCline could cause the upset here. Byrd tried to trade with Golota to make himself more entertaining, he's desperate for acceptance and [pay-days and is taking risks. I think McCline is a legitimate risk.

I wish we had the chance to watch this card in the UK, put it that way.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 04 Aug 2004, 06:51

The trouble is, McCline likes to stick and move, he's not a brawler by nature, which is odd for such a massive guy, he can whack on occasion though. I think McCline v Byrd will stink the joint out....

Golota v Ruiz has the potential to be a cracker, and hopefully it will rid us of Ruiz. Let's hope Golota doesn't get DQ'd again. They need to get a good ref like Nady or Cortez who won't allow for much holding.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 04 Aug 2004, 06:58

I know what your saying about McCline - he's cautious despite his enormity.

However, it was the cautious long jab and physical dominance of the Klitschko's that gave Byrd the most problems.

Against fighters that feint too much, like Tua or just march forward like Holyfield then Byrd looks masterful as he boxes on the counter or sticks and moves too fast for them.

But a fighter that jabs, like Oquendo, and doesn't chase Byrd too much, stand solid behind a long jab - like Golota and Klitschko - give him problems.

McCline has the physical tools to emply a similar game-plan, but I question whether he has the mental capacity to believe in himself. His over-cautious performance against Wladimir suggests he's either going to freeze with the opportunity in his hands, or he's scared when physically matched - though the win over Grant and Whittaker suggest its the enormity of the fight not the opponent that stiffens him up.

Still good to see Byrd fighting a genuine contender who has beaten some people.

DP

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 04 Aug 2004, 07:01

Hmm, good point. Oqeundo 'won' the fight by forcing Byrd to be the aggressor, question is, will McCline have the handspeed and workrate to do the same, it's possible. Byrd is in decline for me anyway, as you would expect of a guy his age with that style.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 04 Aug 2004, 07:04

Byrd in decline?

Not sure about this - his style requires a certain type of opponent. Fighters as limited as Tua and a faded Holyfield were primed for Byrd. But big-bad SOB's like Vitaly and Golota are not and a fighter as cautious and similar in style as Fres is also not ideal.

Byrd needs his back to the ropes countering of a ponderous opponent.

I'm not sure McCline is going to be that dumb or over-zealous to bully Byrd.

Its a good fight between contrasting styles, sure its not going to be the Thrilla in Manilla but its an absorbing contest.

And its a genuine fight.

And as a final note - I love Chris Byrd for his guts and principles.

big lennox · Post by **big lennox** » 04 Aug 2004, 07:05

What a boring nights boxing.But the amazing thing is we won't be able to watch it as Don King would ask for too much money from Sky to show it.I hope thats the case anyway.

The only fight that I am looking forward to at the moment is Trinidad-Mayorga. I bet you Scott harrison's next fight will be agaianst a nobody as will Hatton's and Calzaghe's.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 04 Aug 2004, 07:29

Ruiz could beat Golota, he's never impressive but he seems to get the wins when he isnt expected to. Could be close.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 04 Aug 2004, 08:40

I think Ruix will beat Golota, his frustration tactics of hugging and holding will turn this into a boring foul fest and i pick Ruiz possibly by DQ, no matter how we try to get rid of this guy he keeps coming back for more, he just seems to want it more than the other so called "contenders" and in a division so weak that is what is getting him through like against Johnson, Rahman, Holyfield etc it wasn't like he was so outstanding more than they were awful.

Byrd-McCline should be a borefest, Byd boxing and moving and McCline timid and overcautious. At least the "top" guys are fighting though and for that we can at least be thankful. There's nothing worse than a weak Heavyweight divison apart from a weak Heavyweight division where everyone is avoiding one another 8)

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 04 Aug 2004, 12:05

The Golota-ites underestimate the almost unlimited Suck Power of the mighty Geez Ruiz.

Two points:

1) If Golota were as big/strong/fast/accurate as some are making him out to be, why couldn't he land more clean shots on Byrd, especially on the inside, where so much of that fight took place?

2) Ruiz beat Oquendo far more convincingly than Byrd did a few months before.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 04 Aug 2004, 12:11

Sounds a bit of a weak argument Erik. Would you favour Oquendo over Golota then?

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 04 Aug 2004, 12:14

Kilburn wrote:Sounds a bit of a weak argument Erik. Would you favour Oquendo over Golota then?

I certainly wouldn't consider him a huge underdog.

What part of my argument do you consider flawed, exactly? A vague, fact-less "sounds like a weak argument" is not a valid rebuttal.

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 04 Aug 2004, 12:16

Ruiz beats Golota and Byrd beats Mccline.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 04 Aug 2004, 12:20

Eric the Viking wrote:
Kilburn wrote:Sounds a bit of a weak argument Erik. Would you favour Oquendo over Golota then?
I certainly wouldn't consider him a huge underdog.

What part of my argument do you consider flawed, exactly? A vague, fact-less "sounds like a weak argument" is not a valid rebuttal.

Don't get your knickers in a twist. It's weak because you're going on about how Golota performed against Byrd (a fight that most observers seemed to score to the Pole anyway) even though we've no idea how Ruiz would get on against the same guy.

Ruiz beating Oquendo easier than Golota "beating" Byrd does not exactly give an insight as to what might happen between Golota and Ruiz. Different fighters, different styles. Maybe Ruiz will handle a bigger guy no problem, maybe not.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 04 Aug 2004, 12:22

Oh f*ck me I've got this all confused haven't I.

I'm bloody hungry and it's nearly time to leave work thank god. Feel free to butcher me at your leisure Mr Viking.

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 04 Aug 2004, 13:23

Kilburn wrote:Oh f*ck me I've got this all confused haven't I.

I'm bloody hungry and it's nearly time to leave work thank god. Feel free to butcher me at your leisure Mr Viking.

Do what us vikings do: have a couple of horns of mead and it'll all feel much better.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 04 Aug 2004, 15:44

I actually think these are TWO intriguing contests - McCline is an average fighter who almosts adopts a pasafist approach, however, Byrd by most accounts lost to both Oquendo and Golota who are probably in the same bracket as McCline in terms of skill.

Golota is an enigma who could beat Ruiz, but could fold.

Fightnews also reported that Toney or Rahman may fight for the WBO title on the same bill, if its not Rahman in this fight he will DEFINATELY be fighting a TBA on this bill.

I actually like this bill - I think they are 2 evenly matched contests.

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 04 Aug 2004, 16:25

Good article on the "intrigue" of Ruiz/Golota by ESB's Frank Lotierzo:

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=1577&more=1