Dear Vitali,

The boxing public is confused as to who the man in the heavyweight division is today. If you defeat Danny Williams tomorrow (Saturday) night, I challenge you to a world heavyweight championship unification match, my WBA belt against your WBC belt.


Here are some of your recent quotes:


"I want to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world."


"I'm the heavyweight champion of the world. And when you have this belt, you have to seek out the best."

"You put your name into the (history) books by going out there and fighting the toughest guys. What kind of champion would it be who would say, `No, I don't want to fight this man because he is too tough?' How could you have the respect for him? I want to be different."

"I want to fight against the strongest challenger in the world."


I agree. There’s only one place to settle this and that’s in the ring, not by what boxing commentators or writers say. You’re fighting tomorrow (Saturday) night, but this message is for Chris Byrd and Lamon Brewster, too. As you know I support a heavyweight tournament matching the four major world title-holders. Tournament or not, though, I intend to only fight so-called world champions.


If you really want to fight the best and the toughest in our business consider my accomplishments and compare them to anyone else (including yourself) in our division:



I’ve beaten three former world champions – Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker.



I’ve beaten five top 10 contenders in world title fights – Holyfield, Rahman, Andrew Golota, Fres Oquendo and Kirk Johnson.



I’ve had eight WBA title fights, fought 93 championship rounds, and been a world champion for more than three years, two months and counting.


Boxing is about winning and imposing your will on your opponent, not style points. I’ve fought and beaten the best heavyweights in the world other than you.


I hear that HBO is holding a date for you in March of 2005, so for boxing fans all over the world, let’s take the first step and unify our titles.


Good luck Saturday and Happy Holidays to you and your family.


John "The Quietman" Ruiz

WBA Heavyweight Champion




Who would love to see this fight?
John Ruiz vs Vitali Klitschko, who do you think would take it
And do you think theres a chance it will happen?

Hah, Whoever wrote this letter, Ruiz or his agent, has some balls to put Ruiz through what happened to Williams and Sanders. I really don't think Ruiz has a better chin then these two, and what if Nady is referee? :D Lolz, I'd like to see Ruiz try to clinch, Nady will KO him.

I wonder how Ruiz feels after last nights fight? :D

I wouldn't pay money to see this fight. I just can't go for Ruiz it would just be a grabbing fest unless Vitali keeps him at the end of his jab.

if they do fight i know jay nady wont be the ref.

I wonder how Ruiz feels after last nights fight? :D

i don't think it matter to the top hw's because i don't think any thought danny even deserved a fight, they all knew he would be destroyed, although i think they also realized that VK's power isn't that great unless they stand there and get hit all night. i would love to see this fight, ruiz always seems to find a way to win

it would be good to see how vitali reacts to the hugging style of ruiz.

vit needs to fight rahman imo he poses the biggest threat to vitali. also evander holyfield(dont hate) could be a problem for vitali because holyfield would keep coming and he has an iron chin.too bad holyfield is far past his prime and if it were a couple of years ago he would stand a good chance

but what the people really want to see is some unification..
some has been HW fighters shouldn't even be on the scene until we know something about unification..
but I guess a manditory is a manditory

:)

id like to see him fight ruiz first, then byrd. he could easily unify the division. the other boxers dont have the kind of power that he can generate from his massive reach, height and weight advantage

agreed :)

will he have to fight a contender in his next fight or will he be able to be in a tournament / unification bout?

I do not want to see Vitaliy fight Ruiz. Ruiz is a disgrace to boxing.

but that's the point of it :)
we'd be able to see him get thrashed, beaten proper, wasted!
instead of a decision or a boring match.

i think a more entertaining beating would be toney vs. ruiz. Toney is a crafty enough fighter to beat the **** out of ruiz and his leaning in and clinching style

i don't think it matter to the top hw's because i don't think any thought danny even deserved a fight, they all knew he would be destroyed, although i think they also realized that VK's power isn't that great unless they stand there and get hit all night. i would love to see this fight, ruiz always seems to find a way to win

True. But I meant that Vitaly showed a lot of ability to adjust and I hope if they fightVitaly will create a gameplan to beat Ruiz.

Let's see it. Let's see him fight Tyson, Toney, Byrd, Ruiz, Golata, Brewster or Rahman.

so you think even one of those would beat vk?

Ruiz would gett hammered as vitaliy's jab is too strong

i just dont think he should have to fight any of those ex-champs unless they really prove themselves again.

maybe Toney, or one of the other champs...

once there's unification..
they should have a battle royal tournament of the top 20 contenders.
the winner takes on the unified champ :)

i would love to see that fight klitschko would win easy

I think the question is..
who will VK not fight so that WK has the opp. to get the remaining title..
:)

Now that would be an interesting fight. Ruiz vs Toney. I never thought of that matchup. Even though I dislike Toney, I would be rooting for him heavily.

Klitschko would beat Ruiz in my opinion, he would probably stop Ruiz late. I think over all size would play a part in this fight.

it seems to be the best chance ??
considering he's calling vk out in his 'open letter'
:)

I think I am the only one that does not want Ruiz Vitaly.

I am afraid that Ruiz will find a way to win, horrifiacally, and we will be stuck with more Ruiz.

Can the WBC strip Ruiz of his title just for sucking so bad?

poor fella...
he does need to get a whoopin so we forget about him, then he can come back hopefully with more support.

Let's see it. Let's see him fight Tyson, Toney, Byrd, Ruiz, Golata, Brewster or Rahman.
Agreed. I would love to see a Vitali vs Golota fight.
Even though I like them both, I would definitely have to with Golota.
He is my boy. I think it would be a good fight. For a few reasons.
Vitali has the reach advantage on Golota, and maybe strength.
But Golota just keeps coming, and if he wants to fight, he will.
But you can never depend on Golota in the ring, he is unpredictable.

Ruiz does have an ugly style but he always manages to land some pretty good shots. I dont see Ruiz standing up to Vitaly's punches but you never know. Ruiz might wear Vitaly down and push him back. Vitaly tires easily but in his last couple of fights he was able to fight at his own pace. Against Lewis he wasnt able to do this but it just so happened that Lewis had less stamina that night then Vitaly. Even so, he was very tired in the 6th round against Lewis, but Lewis was more tired. If Ruiz can force a fast pace ane wear him down with bear hugs and force Vitaly backwards he has a shot.

I think Ruiz must cop more **** these days than just about anyone. If this letter is the real-deal then I respect him for it. It sounds like he honestly wants to unify the belts, and doesnt mind fighting the best to do it. Whether you agree with his style/tactics or not, you gotta say he is doing a good thing. It sounds like he's over the politics, over the talk, over all the BS that gets in the way of the best fights, and just wants to get down to business - and thats boxing.

Having said that, Go Vitali - bash that sucker :D

LOL
YEAH!!
:D
I guess that's why the call him John "the Gentleman" Ruiz..
seems like a nice guy, I like that.
still though, Vitali GO BASH HIM!!
LOL
:D

He doesnt want to hug on Vitali he will get worn down too easily with Vitali leaning on him all night. Since when has Ruiz ever had a fast paced fight? I mean seriously the man literally clinches more than he punches. Id say Vitali beats him up for 12 rounds. UD Ruiz