Razor Ruddock
Name: Donovan Ruddock
Alias: Razor
Hometown: Weston, Ontario, Canada
Birthplace: Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 191cm
Reach: 208cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Trainers: Janks Morton, Jim (Slim) Robinson, Art Miles, Floyd Patterson
Manager: Delroy Ruddock
Promoter: Murad Muhammad
Donovan Razor Ruddock Gallery
Career Overview
Donovan "Razor" Ruddock was a highly ranked heavyweight contender in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was known for his powerful left hook/uppercut hybrid, which he called "The Smash." The Ring Magazine named Ruddock the 70th greatest puncher of all-time in 2003.
Ruddock turned professional in 1982. His first loss occurred in his 11th fight, when he was stopped in eight rounds by journeyman David Jaco on April 30, 1985. He blamed the loss on an asthma attack.
He won his next three fights and then fought former WBA heavyweight champion Mike Weaver on August 23, 1986. After ten rounds, Ruddock was awarded a split decision victory.
On May 28, 1986, Ruddock knocked out Ken Lakusta in one round to win the vacant Canadian heavyweight title.
Ruddock fought former WBA champion James (Bonecrusher) Smith on July 2, 1989. He was dropped in the second round, but he came back to knock out Smith in the seventh.
Ruddock was scheduled to face Mike Tyson for the World Heavyweight Championship in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on November 18, 1989, but Tyson pulled out of the fight because of an illness. The fight was first postponed and then cancelled. Several months later, Tyson lost the championship in a huge upset to James (Buster) Douglas.
On April 4, 1990, Ruddock brutally knocked out former WBA heavyweight champion Michael Dokes in four rounds at Madison Square Garden to win the WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title.
Ruddock and Tyson finally fought on March 18, 1991, in a twelve-round non-title fight. Ruddock was dropped in rounds two and three, but he came back and hurt Tyson in the sixth round with a left hook which perforated the former champion's eardrum. In the seventh round, Tyson rocked Ruddock with a combination and referee Richard Steele stopped the fight. It was a controversial call. Many felt the fight was stopped prematurely.
They had a rematch on June 28, 1991. Ruddock was again floored early in the fight, going down in rounds two and four. He also suffered a broken jaw, but he was able to go the 12-round distance. Tyson won by a unanimous decision. It would be Tyson's last fight for more than four years. The following year, he was convicted of rape and served three years in prison.
Ruddock returned to the ring on February 15, 1992, and stopped former WBA heavyweight champion Greg Page in eight rounds. He then knocked out undefeated Phil Jackson in four rounds on June 26 to win the vacant IBC heavyweight title.
On October 31, 1992, Ruddock fought Lennox Lewis in a WBC title eliminator. Ruddock, rated No. 1, was floored by a right hand late in the first round. Lewis, rated No. 2, scored two more knockdowns early in the second round, and referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight.
On June 10, 1995, in his last notable fight, Ruddock fought former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison. Ruddock dropped Morrison in the first round, but Morrison came back and hurt Ruddock in the second. Ruddock grabbed the top ring rope to keep from going down and was given an eight-count by referee Ron Lipton. Ruddock hurt Morrison again in the sixth round but was dropped by a Morrison left hook as he moved in for the finish. Ruddock got up, but the fight was soon stopped with Ruddock taking punishment along the ropes.
Ruddock retired after stopping Egerton Marcus in ten rounds to win the vacant Canadian heavyweight title on October 12, 2001.
After 13½ years of inactivity, 51-year-old Ruddock returned to the ring and stopped Raymond Olubowale in five rounds on March 28, 2015.