Chris Byrd vs John Ruiz

[DrDuke]

Both were fighters of the same era, both were top competitors of the early 2000s, but have never faced each other in the ring.

How do you see this fight going? Who would you pick to win in their primes?

[Boxing Writer]

Both were fighters of the same era, both were top competitors of the early 2000s, but have never faced each other in the ring.

How do you see this fight going? Who would you pick to win in their primes?

Byrd, easily. Ruiz was taylor-made for slick boxers - Jones and Toney boxed his ears off, and Toney was in awful shape in that fight. Byrd could have easily held 4 world titles in mid 2000s since both Ruiz and Brewster were stylistically perfect opponents for him and guys like Maskaev and Rahman were just too slow. Perfect root for Byrd after winning IBF title in 2002 would be: unify with John Ruiz in the beginning of 2004, then add Brewster's WBO belt in the second half of the year, then beat Rahman and take his WBC belt in November-December of 2005. Too bad, Don King wasn't intrested in unifying titles back then, because neither one of his fighters had a star potential.

[DrDuke]

Both were fighters of the same era, both were top competitors of the early 2000s, but have never faced each other in the ring.

How do you see this fight going? Who would you pick to win in their primes?

Byrd, easily. Ruiz was taylor-made for slick boxers - Jones and Toney boxed his ears off, and Toney was in awful shape in that fight. Byrd could have easily held 4 world titles in mid 2000s since both Ruiz and Brewster were stylistically perfect opponents for him and guys like Maskaev and Rahman were just too slow. Perfect root for Byrd after winning IBF title in 2002 would be: unify with John Ruiz in the beginning of 2004, then add Brewster's WBO belt in the second half of the year, then beat Rahman and take his WBC belt in November-December of 2005. Too bad, Don King wasn't intrested in unifying titles back then, because neither one of his fighters had a star potential.

I agree, Byrd could have been too slick for Ruiz, so Ruiz wouldn't be able to find any openings for his spoiling tricks. Byrd also had some arguable decisions though. So there could have been a possibility of a close bout. They could have even drawn, if they met.

[Boxing Writer]

Both were fighters of the same era, both were top competitors of the early 2000s, but have never faced each other in the ring.

How do you see this fight going? Who would you pick to win in their primes?

Byrd, easily. Ruiz was taylor-made for slick boxers - Jones and Toney boxed his ears off, and Toney was in awful shape in that fight. Byrd could have easily held 4 world titles in mid 2000s since both Ruiz and Brewster were stylistically perfect opponents for him and guys like Maskaev and Rahman were just too slow. Perfect root for Byrd after winning IBF title in 2002 would be: unify with John Ruiz in the beginning of 2004, then add Brewster's WBO belt in the second half of the year, then beat Rahman and take his WBC belt in November-December of 2005. Too bad, Don King wasn't intrested in unifying titles back then, because neither one of his fighters had a star potential.

I agree, Byrd could have been too slick for Ruiz, so Ruiz wouldn't be able to find any openings for his spoiling tricks. Byrd also had some arguable decisions though. So there could have been a possibility of a close bout. They could have even drawn, if they met.

Yes, Byrd had very close victory over Oquendo, but Oquendo was stilystically wrong for him. He moved a lot and made Byrd chase him. In 2004 Byrd had 2 close fights against Golota and McCline, but they were huge guys. Much bigger than Ruiz, Brewster and Rahman.

[DrDuke]

Byrd, easily. Ruiz was taylor-made for slick boxers - Jones and Toney boxed his ears off, and Toney was in awful shape in that fight. Byrd could have easily held 4 world titles in mid 2000s since both Ruiz and Brewster were stylistically perfect opponents for him and guys like Maskaev and Rahman were just too slow. Perfect root for Byrd after winning IBF title in 2002 would be: unify with John Ruiz in the beginning of 2004, then add Brewster's WBO belt in the second half of the year, then beat Rahman and take his WBC belt in November-December of 2005. Too bad, Don King wasn't intrested in unifying titles back then, because neither one of his fighters had a star potential.

I agree, Byrd could have been too slick for Ruiz, so Ruiz wouldn't be able to find any openings for his spoiling tricks. Byrd also had some arguable decisions though. So there could have been a possibility of a close bout. They could have even drawn, if they met.

Yes, Byrd had very close victory over Oquendo, but Oquendo was stilystically wrong for him. He moved a lot and made Byrd chase him. In 2004 Byrd had 2 close fights against Golota and McCline, but they were huge guys. Much bigger than Ruiz, Brewster and Rahman.

Well, yeah, and Ruiz couldn't suggest what those guys had provided against Byrd.

[SenorPipino]

Ruiz could strangely be a difficult task if you went into the trenches with him.

But if you could box and had quickness, his limitations were apparent.

Byrd by a wide unanimous decision.