Do you think either of these fighters get in the HOF?

[bjermaine]

buster douglas & john ruiz

i think buster will eventually get in the hall. he was the undisputed heavyweight champ for a second with his upset over tyson and he had wins over mccall, berbick, page, and cobb. jess willard eventually made it in and i think douglas will too.

ruiz was the first latino heavyweight belt holder and has decent wins over holyfield, rahman, and golota. i don't see him making it to canastota but i think he could possibly make it into the world boxing hall in LA.

thoughts?

[giacomino]

Stranger things have happened, but I can't imagine either one of these guys getting many HOF votes. Douglas' entire argument would be based on the Tyson fight, admittedly one of the biggest upsets ever. In his only other title fights, he got KO'd by Tony Tucker and hammered by Holyfield. He had nice wins over Greg Page (when that meant something), Oliver McCall and an aging Trevor Berbick, but that's still a terribly thin resume for a HOFer.
John Ruiz's best win was over a 38-year-old Holyfield. He got his a-- handed to him by a light heavyweight (Jones) and a blown-up middleweight/cruiserweight (Toney). Plus, anyone who loses twice to a stiff like Valuev doesn't belong in the HOF.

[dempseyfire]

No

[bjermaine]

Stranger things have happened, but I can't imagine either one of these guys getting many HOF votes. Douglas' entire argument would be based on the Tyson fight, admittedly one of the biggest upsets ever. In his only other title fights, he got KO'd by Tony Tucker and hammered by Holyfield. He had nice wins over Greg Page (when that meant something), Oliver McCall and an aging Trevor Berbick, but that's still a terribly thin resume for a HOFer.
John Ruiz's best win was over a 38-year-old Holyfield. He got his a-- handed to him by a light heavyweight (Jones) and a blown-up middleweight/cruiserweight (Toney). Plus, anyone who loses twice to a stiff like Valuev doesn't belong in the HOF.

true, plus he was hell to watch. i think being the first latino heavy champ will get him some votes.

[My2Sense]

Neither one of them deserves to get in, but Douglas might just off the momentousness of the Tyson win.

Can't see Ruiz getting in at this point. Even the sportswriters (who are principle in lobbying for fighters) detest him.

[Seamus]

Letting Douglas in would be ridiculous. For Ruiz I'd say yes, providing he suddenly stops a Klitschko or two.

[pound per pound]

No.

[p4p1]

no

[Adamj1987]

ruiz will get in for 2 reasons

hes a 3 times titlist which they will look at
and hes the first latino heavyweight titlist so that will get him in if nothing else does

[observer1]

I don't think they will.

Seeing as it's evident Tyson was a train-wreck waiting to happen.

Ironically, imo, had Douglas not shyed away from a rematch with Tyson. Maybe so. Even though he would have probably lost by KO, it would have been better than obviously ducking him and getting KO'd by Holyfield instead.

[Rocky Balboa]

I don't think they will.

Seeing as it's evident Tyson was a train-wreck waiting to happen.

Ironically, imo, had Douglas not shyed away from a rematch with Tyson. Maybe so. Even though he would have probably lost by KO, it would have been better than obviously ducking him and getting KO'd by Holyfield instead.

You are not wrong in respect of Douglas ducking Tyson. Shortly after their bout when both were back in the USA, both appeared on HBO with Larry Merchant asking the questions. Tyson was still wearing glasses to cover up his badly swollen eye.

When asked about a rematch, Tyson was adamant that he wanted, even saying he will show the world who is the best if a rematch were to happen. Tyson left no one in any doubt he wanted an immediate rematch!

Douglas stated that he would rather fight Holyfield then talk about the Tyson rematch afterwards. Don't get me wrong, I know Douglas got $24M for Holyfield, but James must have known Tyson would have been a different fighter second time around!

We all know what happened when Douglas fought Evander & thus a rematch with Mike went out the window!

[turn2stone]

if hall of fame voters aren't wearing the popular mike tyson-rose-coloured-revisionist-history-glasses then douglas (who was also a train wreck waiting to happen) gets in. based on
1) being the winner of the biggest upset in history.
2) the victory was not a fluke, but based on a well executed plan over several rounds (in combination with tyson's flakey preparation and amateur cornermen)
3) it was for the big prize...the heavyweight championship of the world.
4) mike tyson would never be looked at in the same light again.

[Flump]

if hall of fame voters aren't wearing the popular mike tyson-rose-coloured-revisionist-history-glasses then douglas (who was also a train wreck waiting to happen) gets in. based on
1) being the winner of the biggest upset in history.
2) the victory was not a fluke, but based on a well executed plan over several rounds (in combination with tyson's flakey preparation and amateur cornermen)
3) it was for the big prize...the heavyweight championship of the world.
4) mike tyson would never be looked at in the same light again.

All true. I would compare Douglas with Braddock, he made it primarily because of one win so you couldn't rule Douglas out, though the way Buster lost the title would count against him.

[turn2stone]

if hall of fame voters aren't wearing the popular mike tyson-rose-coloured-revisionist-history-glasses then douglas (who was also a train wreck waiting to happen) gets in. based on
1) being the winner of the biggest upset in history.
2) the victory was not a fluke, but based on a well executed plan over several rounds (in combination with tyson's flakey preparation and amateur cornermen)
3) it was for the big prize...the heavyweight championship of the world.
4) mike tyson would never be looked at in the same light again.

All true. I would compare Douglas with Braddock, he made it primarily because of one win so you couldn't rule Douglas out, though the way Buster lost the title would count against him.

decent comparison. and braddock is IN. But really it's not as if the bar is all that high for getting into the hall anyway.

[Seamus]

Especially if you're a heavyweight.

[oldwarrior]

NO and NO

oldwarrior

[Rick Farris]

buster douglas & john ruiz

i think buster will eventually get in the hall. he was the undisputed heavyweight champ for a second with his upset over tyson and he had wins over mccall, berbick, page, and cobb. jess willard eventually made it in and i think douglas will too.

ruiz was the first latino heavyweight belt holder and has decent wins over holyfield, rahman, and golota. i don't see him making it to canastota but i think he could possibly make it into the world boxing hall in LA.

thoughts?

Not on my shift.


Rick Farris
World Boxing Hall of Fame
Selection Commitee Chairman

[elmersalsa]

None of the two deserve to be in. One only had a one great night and the other hugged too much to begin with. Watching a John Ruiz fight was like watching slowdancing or WWE Wrestling.

Maybe Carlos "Sugar" De Leon deserve to be in the hall than those two.

[bjermaine]

buster douglas & john ruiz

i think buster will eventually get in the hall. he was the undisputed heavyweight champ for a second with his upset over tyson and he had wins over mccall, berbick, page, and cobb. jess willard eventually made it in and i think douglas will too.

ruiz was the first latino heavyweight belt holder and has decent wins over holyfield, rahman, and golota. i don't see him making it to canastota but i think he could possibly make it into the world boxing hall in LA.

thoughts?

Not on my shift.


Rick Farris
World Boxing Hall of Fame
Selection Commitee Chairman

i guess my question has been answered. i think it will take a long time but they could both get in like willard. neither are probably not deserving but when you compare them to who's in already, they don't look so bad.

[Rick Farris]

buster douglas & john ruiz

i think buster will eventually get in the hall. he was the undisputed heavyweight champ for a second with his upset over tyson and he had wins over mccall, berbick, page, and cobb. jess willard eventually made it in and i think douglas will too.

ruiz was the first latino heavyweight belt holder and has decent wins over holyfield, rahman, and golota. i don't see him making it to canastota but i think he could possibly make it into the world boxing hall in LA.

thoughts?

Not on my shift.


Rick Farris
World Boxing Hall of Fame
Selection Commitee Chairman

i guess my question has been answered. i think it will take a long time but they could both get in like willard. neither are probably not deserving but when you compare them to who's in already, they don't look so bad.

bjermaine . . .

You make a very good point. Some who have been inducted are no more deserving than these two.
You also brought up a good point relating to Douglas' huge upset over 50-1 favorite Tyson.
Buster really shook up boxing hisotry with that win.

I wasn't deliberatly being sarcastic with my "not on my shift" answer.
However, we still have a number of overlooked greats from the past who will likely find a home on our "Roll Call" first.


-Rick Farris

[bjermaine]

bjermaine . . .

You make a very good point. Some who have been inducted are no more deserving than these two.
You also brought up a good point relating to Douglas' huge upset over 50-1 favorite Tyson.
Buster really shook up boxing hisotry with that win.

I wasn't deliberatly being sarcastic with my "not on my shift" answer.
However, we still have a number of overlooked greats from the past who will likely find a home on our "Roll Call" first.


-Rick Farris

that's good to hear. i'm hoping you can do me a favor and make sure that the fraud known as joe calzaghe doesn't see your hall. j/k i'm hoping to make it out to cali and check out the hall one day. thanks!

[boxing_fanatic_87]

No.

no

Yeah....No

[Goodnight, Irene]

Calzaghe was never the talent Jones was (not even close), but his accomplishments & career-competition are comparable.

[Rick Farris]

bjermaine . . .

You make a very good point. Some who have been inducted are no more deserving than these two.
You also brought up a good point relating to Douglas' huge upset over 50-1 favorite Tyson.
Buster really shook up boxing hisotry with that win.

I wasn't deliberatly being sarcastic with my "not on my shift" answer.
However, we still have a number of overlooked greats from the past who will likely find a home on our "Roll Call" first.


-Rick Farris

that's good to hear. i'm hoping you can do me a favor and make sure that the fraud known as joe calzaghe doesn't see your hall. j/k i'm hoping to make it out to cali and check out the hall one day. thanks!

BJ . . . We don't have an actual museum at this point, but this is what we are working toward. Regardless, should you choose to attend our annual induction banquet sometime (we hold it every year) be sure to let me know so we can meet, and you'll have access to any of the boxers or fight personalities you care to meet.


-Rick Farris

[telboy66]

If they let these guys in Butterbean will be next