Geez, Ruiz

Ron DiMichele

28.02 - John Ruiz, even after 43 professional fights, remains an enigma. His name is never mentioned without the caveat, ‘He’s not really that skilled,’ or ‘He’s more of a clumsy brawler than a fighter.’ But somehow, he keeps on chugging. He’s a belt holder for cryin’ out loud! At a certain point fight fans need to consider whether the hands of fate may be stirring the pot here. What else explains his 36 solid rounds with Holyfield? Or those groin shots from heaven against Kirk Johnson that cemented his win? How does he do it? You tell me. A foreign object hidden in his trunks? A conveniently placed ringside chair? Help from a friend while the referee is distracted?

When the boxing career of John Ruiz is over, he need not worry. They’re holding a place for him in the hallowed halls of professional wrestling. He’ll be one of those guys who gets the wood put to him for the bulk of the fight, and then, in a flashing reversal of fortune, pins the poor slob who’s been flogging his butt for the past half hour. Who knows how? It just happens, over and over again. Something carries the man to victory.

Nothing against Roy Jones Jr. He’s an exceptionally skilled, perhaps great fighter. But should he be tempting the boxing gods like this? Especially those protecting the sacred gates of the heavyweight division? Jones Jr enters this fight looking for an easy foil. He sees a big, slow heavyweight belt holder ripe for the picking — ten times the glory with half the risk. A hundred years from now the record books would say Roy Jones Jr rose up from the middleweight ranks and wrested the crown away from the Heavyweight Champion of the World. Lennox who? But in the mojo-charmed world of John Ruiz, a sure thing can spell sure trouble.

Ruiz detractors love to trot out the name of David Tua. But first round knockouts can be misleading! The Quiet Man reeled off four straight kayos of his own after that brief stumble, won a twelve-round split decision over Jimmy Thunder, and then crunched another half-dozen opponents in a row before dropping a close decision to Evander. He came back from the Tua loss, not gun shy, but with a vengeance, ready to dish out some of what he tasted against Tuaman.

That doesn’t mean Ruiz is going to win against Roy Jones Jr, it’s just that his penchant for improbable success adds to the sense of intrigue hovering around this fight. NOBODY knows what the heck is going to happen. A lot of the experts won’t even venture a guess. Too risky. Anything short of, say, ear-biting seems possible. Oh sure, visit any boxing website and the fur is flying, rabid backers of both men defending their pick. But isn’t it the unbearably nagging question marks around this fight that are raising such a ruckus?

There hasn’t been this sense of expectation around a fight in many years. Such a wide array of predictions about what will transpire once that bell rings. The most common scenario of a jabbing Roy Jones Jr shaking and baking his way to victory just doesn’t ring true for many fans. There’s a feeling that something else is in store here, a great reckoning waiting to unfold.

A former middleweight entering the heavyweight division is a stranger in a strange land. An outsider in someone else’s ‘hood. This isn’t just a fight; it’s a turf war, a pride thing. John Ruiz isn’t just fighting for himself; he’s standing up for the entire heavyweight division against this unwanted intruder.

Roy Jones Jr has ridden into town and called out the local gunslinger, and now things will be settled the old-fashioned way. The oddsmakers have Roy Jones Jr a favorite, but that can be misleading in a fight like this. There are too many variables, like the size differential, and there’s The Quiet Man, John Ruiz, who somehow finds a way.

The mysterious forces holding sway over the ebb and flow of battle will be swirling in full force Saturday night at the Thomas and Mack Center in the city of Lost Wages. Legions of boxing fans, as well as casual sports fans (yes, it’s that kind of fight), will be hugging their sets, transfixed. It’s a fight with something for everyone: speed, skill, size, power, brute strength, and a sense of drama and electricity unique to the sport of boxing.

The time has come to silence the debates and put aside the arguments. People, the moment of truth is upon us. LET’S GET IT ON!!!

Ron DiMichele's email address is: rondimi@yahoo.com