How the experts rate afterwards
Posted: 01 Sep 2003, 13:07
I think it's always interesting to see how those who go out on a limb and make predictions prior to a big fight, have fared afterwards. The Jones-Ruiz fight was a toughie to predict in my opinion (I went for Ruiz, feeling he was underrated) and inspired these predictions from a number of highly respected names...
Alex Levin - Writer, Fightnews.com
I like Roy Jones by 12 round unanimous decision. Jones's skill and speed are too much for the awkward plodding Ruiz. Jones takes his game to a higher level than he has since the James Toney fight and by sticking and moving he frustrates Ruiz who just is not in the skill class of Jones. Roy even leads with some power hooks and double and triple hooks to the body hurt Ruiz who is never in danger of going down but never in the fight at all and Jones wins a surprisingly easy decision over a man who outweighs him by 40 pounds.
Jones UD
Clive Bernath - Editor/Writer, Secondsout.com
I think Roy Jones wins on points, clearly. I see Jones being fit enough to box and move for the entire 12 rounds. Jones has been itching to fight at heavyweight for years. He will have studied Ruiz very carefully realizes he can win. Of course he will take a few shots but always be a jab or two in front.
Jones UD
JD Vena - Editor/Writer, CyberBoxingZone.com
As great as Roy is, I cannot see him defeating a big, top heavyweight like John Ruiz. Most see Jones sticking and moving, but Jones will not have the legs to carry him as soon as Ruiz gets a hold of him. Ruiz doesn't necessarily have to hit him with many body or head shots. He just needs to be able to touch and clutch him. The weight bearing down on Jones will sap his strength and speed as it has happened to many good little men like Roy. Ruiz by 7th round TKO.
Ruiz TKO7
Finbarr - Writer, BoxingsTrueChamps.com
Don't really see what all the fuss is about. Jones will be giving up about 30 pounds, DaVarryl Williamson gave up 100 pounds and still knocked out Corey Sanders. Ted 'Kid' Lewis KO'd heavyweights when he was a welter. Other little guys who've had some success? Micky Walker, Stanley Ketchel, Georges Carpentier, Chris Byrd, Ezzard Charles, Billy Conn etc. etc. ad infinitum. I liken it to Spinks - Cooney or Leonard - Lalonde, but without the excitement. Roy fights scared and wins on points.
Jones UD
Charles Jay - Writer/Editor, Totalaction.com
Jones will not be able to hit Ruiz with enough force to keep him away. And Ruiz may be harder to hit than everybody thinks. The important thing is not necessarily that Ruiz is up to 40 pounds heavier than Jones, but that he's at least FIFTY pounds heavier than anyone Jones has ever fought. That will mean something when Jones gets hit. I'm looking for Ruiz to wear him down, and for him to stop Jones anywhere between Rounds 8 and 11. Give me the underdog with a 40-pound weight advantage almost anytime.
Ruiz KO 8-11
Patrick Kehoe - Writer, Secondsout.com
A good big man beats a good smaller man. In this fight that cliche doesn't sustain a relevant point for comparison. Ruiz ranks as a just above average fighter and Jones resisters as a maximal talent, a singular athletic specimen in this era of boxing. Though this is a fight and Jones is 34, he's a preserved 34, brimming with speed and agility when called upon. Ruiz's pedantic, rough on the inside, telegraphed right hand power thrusts should be counter-fodder for Jones' power combinations. Forget about it, if you think Jones has to run to win. Does Jones have the chin to withstand a heavyweight? Wait for the next installment of "Jones Plays the Heavy."
Jones UD
W.H. Stickney, Jr. - Writer, Houston Chronicle
A good big man usually takes the measure of a good little man stepping up in class. In this case, an excellent "little man" uses speed and quickness to take the measure of an "average" world champion.
Jones UD
Tony Scott - Writer/Editor, BoxingGurus.com
I am taking RJJ by easy decision. I think this fight will be a replica of the recent Holyfield/Byrd fight, with RJJ (like Byrd) using his superior speed and movement to outbox Ruiz. You can't hit what is not in front of you and RJJ will throw quick combinations and get out of harms way. Some people say if Ruiz, with his 30+ pound advantage, catches RJJ with a solid shot, the fight will be over. But don't expect RJJ to be in the position to get caught, he is too smart and fast for Ruiz.
Jones UD
Bob Mladinich - Writer, The Fist & Gallery Magazine
If Michael Moorer and Michael Spinks could successfully campaign against legitimate heavyweights, so can Jones. Ruiz is as rugged as they come, but its hard to see him overcoming Jones' speed and elusiveness. If Jones' testosterone level is high on March 1, he could stop Ruiz. But I'd be more inclined to think he will use his speed and guile to win a decision.
Jones UD
Gregory Juckett - Editor, Boxing Digest
I like Roy Jones over John Ruiz by stoppage in round eleven. Jones is a once in a generation type of talent and I believe he'll produce a dramatic victory.
Jones KO11
Tony Gonzalez - Attourney, Council for Roberto Duran, Santiago
Samaniego, Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis
I believe that Jones can outbox Ruiz, but there are two questions. First, will the added weight affect Jones' ability to box for 12 rounds? Second, will Jones be able to take a heavyweight's punch? I think that these are the 2 key elements to this fight. If Jones is able to overcome both, then yes he should win the fight. However, I do not think that when Ruiz puts his weight on Jones and starts pounding him, Jones will be able to absorb that. I pick Ruiz in a TKO win in the 8th to 10th rounds.
Ruiz KO8-10
Brad Berkwitt - Author, Boxing Interviews Of A Lifetime
Roy Jones, Jr. will put on a boxing clinic and show the boxing world that if Vernon would have fought this way, he also could have won his.
Jones UD
"Iceman" John Scully - Boxer, Light Heavyweight/Cruiserweight
Contender
I will say that I think if there is one Light Heavy that can pull this off it is Roy. Nobody else would have a prayer. I could see Roy moving and Boxing, taking his time, picking his shots and overcoming some scary moments to win a decision
Jones UD
Maurice Harris - Boxer, World Ranked Heavyweight Contender
At first I said Ruiz has the edge. But, when I saw him in Miami at 218, I said what is he doing. If he thinks he's going to match Jones' skills he mistaken. I thought he would use the weight to his favor. That doesn't seem to be the case now. So, the fight is now even and I think Roy can get the decision now. Roy by split decision.
Jones SD
Alex Dombroff - Webmaster/Editor/Lead Writer, Boxing316.com
The big question coming in has been, "Can Jones deal with Ruiz's punch?" But, I would like to ask "Can Ruiz deal with Jones's speed?" I think the answer is no. I like Jones to stop Ruiz with a barrage of shots late in the fight, where Ruiz will be hapless.
Jones KO11
This list was first published on boxing 316.com
Alex Levin - Writer, Fightnews.com
I like Roy Jones by 12 round unanimous decision. Jones's skill and speed are too much for the awkward plodding Ruiz. Jones takes his game to a higher level than he has since the James Toney fight and by sticking and moving he frustrates Ruiz who just is not in the skill class of Jones. Roy even leads with some power hooks and double and triple hooks to the body hurt Ruiz who is never in danger of going down but never in the fight at all and Jones wins a surprisingly easy decision over a man who outweighs him by 40 pounds.
Jones UD
Clive Bernath - Editor/Writer, Secondsout.com
I think Roy Jones wins on points, clearly. I see Jones being fit enough to box and move for the entire 12 rounds. Jones has been itching to fight at heavyweight for years. He will have studied Ruiz very carefully realizes he can win. Of course he will take a few shots but always be a jab or two in front.
Jones UD
JD Vena - Editor/Writer, CyberBoxingZone.com
As great as Roy is, I cannot see him defeating a big, top heavyweight like John Ruiz. Most see Jones sticking and moving, but Jones will not have the legs to carry him as soon as Ruiz gets a hold of him. Ruiz doesn't necessarily have to hit him with many body or head shots. He just needs to be able to touch and clutch him. The weight bearing down on Jones will sap his strength and speed as it has happened to many good little men like Roy. Ruiz by 7th round TKO.
Ruiz TKO7
Finbarr - Writer, BoxingsTrueChamps.com
Don't really see what all the fuss is about. Jones will be giving up about 30 pounds, DaVarryl Williamson gave up 100 pounds and still knocked out Corey Sanders. Ted 'Kid' Lewis KO'd heavyweights when he was a welter. Other little guys who've had some success? Micky Walker, Stanley Ketchel, Georges Carpentier, Chris Byrd, Ezzard Charles, Billy Conn etc. etc. ad infinitum. I liken it to Spinks - Cooney or Leonard - Lalonde, but without the excitement. Roy fights scared and wins on points.
Jones UD
Charles Jay - Writer/Editor, Totalaction.com
Jones will not be able to hit Ruiz with enough force to keep him away. And Ruiz may be harder to hit than everybody thinks. The important thing is not necessarily that Ruiz is up to 40 pounds heavier than Jones, but that he's at least FIFTY pounds heavier than anyone Jones has ever fought. That will mean something when Jones gets hit. I'm looking for Ruiz to wear him down, and for him to stop Jones anywhere between Rounds 8 and 11. Give me the underdog with a 40-pound weight advantage almost anytime.
Ruiz KO 8-11
Patrick Kehoe - Writer, Secondsout.com
A good big man beats a good smaller man. In this fight that cliche doesn't sustain a relevant point for comparison. Ruiz ranks as a just above average fighter and Jones resisters as a maximal talent, a singular athletic specimen in this era of boxing. Though this is a fight and Jones is 34, he's a preserved 34, brimming with speed and agility when called upon. Ruiz's pedantic, rough on the inside, telegraphed right hand power thrusts should be counter-fodder for Jones' power combinations. Forget about it, if you think Jones has to run to win. Does Jones have the chin to withstand a heavyweight? Wait for the next installment of "Jones Plays the Heavy."
Jones UD
W.H. Stickney, Jr. - Writer, Houston Chronicle
A good big man usually takes the measure of a good little man stepping up in class. In this case, an excellent "little man" uses speed and quickness to take the measure of an "average" world champion.
Jones UD
Tony Scott - Writer/Editor, BoxingGurus.com
I am taking RJJ by easy decision. I think this fight will be a replica of the recent Holyfield/Byrd fight, with RJJ (like Byrd) using his superior speed and movement to outbox Ruiz. You can't hit what is not in front of you and RJJ will throw quick combinations and get out of harms way. Some people say if Ruiz, with his 30+ pound advantage, catches RJJ with a solid shot, the fight will be over. But don't expect RJJ to be in the position to get caught, he is too smart and fast for Ruiz.
Jones UD
Bob Mladinich - Writer, The Fist & Gallery Magazine
If Michael Moorer and Michael Spinks could successfully campaign against legitimate heavyweights, so can Jones. Ruiz is as rugged as they come, but its hard to see him overcoming Jones' speed and elusiveness. If Jones' testosterone level is high on March 1, he could stop Ruiz. But I'd be more inclined to think he will use his speed and guile to win a decision.
Jones UD
Gregory Juckett - Editor, Boxing Digest
I like Roy Jones over John Ruiz by stoppage in round eleven. Jones is a once in a generation type of talent and I believe he'll produce a dramatic victory.
Jones KO11
Tony Gonzalez - Attourney, Council for Roberto Duran, Santiago
Samaniego, Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis
I believe that Jones can outbox Ruiz, but there are two questions. First, will the added weight affect Jones' ability to box for 12 rounds? Second, will Jones be able to take a heavyweight's punch? I think that these are the 2 key elements to this fight. If Jones is able to overcome both, then yes he should win the fight. However, I do not think that when Ruiz puts his weight on Jones and starts pounding him, Jones will be able to absorb that. I pick Ruiz in a TKO win in the 8th to 10th rounds.
Ruiz KO8-10
Brad Berkwitt - Author, Boxing Interviews Of A Lifetime
Roy Jones, Jr. will put on a boxing clinic and show the boxing world that if Vernon would have fought this way, he also could have won his.
Jones UD
"Iceman" John Scully - Boxer, Light Heavyweight/Cruiserweight
Contender
I will say that I think if there is one Light Heavy that can pull this off it is Roy. Nobody else would have a prayer. I could see Roy moving and Boxing, taking his time, picking his shots and overcoming some scary moments to win a decision
Jones UD
Maurice Harris - Boxer, World Ranked Heavyweight Contender
At first I said Ruiz has the edge. But, when I saw him in Miami at 218, I said what is he doing. If he thinks he's going to match Jones' skills he mistaken. I thought he would use the weight to his favor. That doesn't seem to be the case now. So, the fight is now even and I think Roy can get the decision now. Roy by split decision.
Jones SD
Alex Dombroff - Webmaster/Editor/Lead Writer, Boxing316.com
The big question coming in has been, "Can Jones deal with Ruiz's punch?" But, I would like to ask "Can Ruiz deal with Jones's speed?" I think the answer is no. I like Jones to stop Ruiz with a barrage of shots late in the fight, where Ruiz will be hapless.
Jones KO11
This list was first published on boxing 316.com
