BoxRec

Jones vs. Ruiz & Byrd vs. Holyfield, was supposed to cultimate into a show down between the two winners, who would then face Lennox Lewis to make one undisputed world champion. It never happened; everybody hoped it would have been Holyfield vs. Jones, with Jones winning and then facing Lewis in a multi million dollar event that would have made Tyson/Lewis look meager. Unfortunately, Byrd beat Holyfield and threw a monkey wrench into the whole equation.

I remember it quite well, after the eliminator that never finished, they thought of making Jones/Holyfield anyways, but that never happened. Then there was talk of Jones/Tyson, but Jones said he wouldnt do it unless he was garunteed $100 million, and despite rumors of him facing Lewis; he vacated the belt, which was later rewon by John Ruiz, and went bk down to 175.

Lewis v Ruddock against Holyfield v Bowe.
BI did a preview where they asked Angelo Dundee, M.Spinks, Tommy Gunn, Larry Holmes, Foreman, Witherspoon among others to predict the outcomes. Nobody picked Holyfield, couple went for Bowe and the overwhelming pick was Ruddock as the outright winner. Only Big George gave Lewis any chance at all.

witherspoon wrote:Lewis v Ruddock against Holyfield v Bowe.
BI did a preview where they asked Angelo Dundee, M.Spinks, Tommy Gunn, Larry Holmes, Foreman, Witherspoon among others to predict the outcomes. Nobody picked Holyfield, couple went for Bowe and the overwhelming pick was Ruddock as the outright winner. Only Big George gave Lewis any chance at all.

A garbage can got in the way.

From Boxing Illustrated, Dec 1992.
Predictions for Lewis-Ruddock/Holyfield-Bowe/Final:
George Foreman - Lewis/Bowe/predicted that Lewis v Bowe would never happen,
Larry Holmes - Ruddock/Holyfield/Ruddock
M.Spinks - Lewis/Holyfield/Lewis
Witherspoon - Ruddock/Bowe/Ruddock (Razor was trained by 'Spoon's mentor, Slim Jim Robinson)
Ernie Terrell - Ruddock/Holyfield/Ruddock
Tommy Morrison - Ruddock/Holyfield/Ruddock
Marvis Frazier - Ruddock/Bowe/Bowe
Earnie Shavers - Ruddock/Holyfield/Ruddock
Angelo Dundee - Ruddock/Bowe/Bowe

7 out of 9 pick Ruddock over Lewis.
5 out of 9 pick Ruddock as the ultimate winner.

I think this shows clearly how much respect there was for Mike Tyson's ability at this point in time. The fact that he did not get knocked cold and landed some punches on Tyson makes Ruddock the man to beat in the heavyweight division.

witherspoon wrote:From Boxing Illustrated, Dec 1992.
Predictions for Lewis-Ruddock/Holyfield-Bowe/Final:
George Foreman - Lewis/Bowe/predicted that Lewis v Bowe would never happen,
Larry Holmes - Ruddock/Holyfield/Ruddock
M.Spinks - Lewis/Holyfield/Lewis
Witherspoon - Ruddock/Bowe/Ruddock (Razor was trained by 'Spoon's mentor, Slim Jim Robinson)
Ernie Terrell - Ruddock/Holyfield/Ruddock
Tommy Morrison - Ruddock/Holyfield/Ruddock
Marvis Frazier - Ruddock/Bowe/Bowe
Earnie Shavers - Ruddock/Holyfield/Ruddock
Angelo Dundee - Ruddock/Bowe/Bowe

7 out of 9 pick Ruddock over Lewis.
5 out of 9 pick Ruddock as the ultimate winner.

I think this shows clearly how much respect there was for Mike Tyson's ability at this point in time. The fact that he did not get knocked cold and landed some punches on Tyson makes Ruddock the man to beat in the heavyweight division.

Spinks got it sort of right--about 7 years later.:)