By Frank Lotierzo - GlovedFist@Juno.com

This past August when the Ruiz-Golota WBA Heavyweight title fight was announced for November 13th, I wrote an article titled "Ruiz-Golota, One Can't and One Won't." That was my first thought when I heard the fight was official. Obviously "One Can't" was a reference to John Ruiz 40-5-1, since that is how he is wrongly perceived by some. And "One Won't" was reference to Golota 38-4-1 quitting in some of his bigger and more high profile fights versus the World's upper-tier heavyweight's.

After thinking about this fight for a couple months, I think I was too rough on Ruiz. When comparing the character of John Ruiz and Andrew Golota, it's not even close. And that's not taking a shot at Golota, it's just stating facts.

And those facts point out that Golota has come apart when faced with adversity and the pressure of doing what's necessary to win at the highest level in the heavyweight division. I know he fought very good against IBF Heavyweight Champ Byrd, and I expect him to fight well against Ruiz on November 13th. However, in my book the burden of proof is still on him and will remain there for a while. As for Ruiz, he's never quit or been close to quitting. Regardless of the fashion in which he lost, Ruiz never suffered a defeat versus an inferior fighter.

If you think about it, Ruiz is every thing Golota isn't. When Ruiz has been defeated, it's been because he was the least talented fighter in the ring, and never due to a lack of effort or him quitting and not trying. Even early in his career before facing David Tua, Ruiz lost by decision to the 15-0 Segi Kobozev and 15-1 Dannell Nicholson. Yes, on paper they were more talented than Ruiz. But Ruiz has proved throughout his career that fights are decided in the ring and not on paper or by the tale of the tape.

Is there even the slightest question as to who is the more talented and skilled fighter between John Ruiz and Andrew Golota? Nope, not in the least. Golota is bigger, a better boxer, puts his shots together better and has better balance. I would've said Golota was a better puncher, but Ruiz almost stopped Holyfield, had Rahman shook a few times, and put Kirk Johnson down. I think that is equal to dropping Michael Grant and a totally shot Riddick Bowe.

Aside from his early defeats, look at the fighters who Ruiz was defeated by. And keep in mind that many have ripped me for saying this heavyweight division is pedestrian at best. So for the sake of argument, lets assume that my assessment is too harsh and the fighters that make up today's heavyweight elite are better than I think they are.

In March of 1996, Ruiz was devastated by David Tua in the first round. What is often overlooked is that was the undefeated 225 pound version of Tua. At that time Tua was a beast and fighting better than he ever had in his career. Not to mention that he showed up in shape and threw punches in bunches. Ruiz wasn't ready for that onslaught and hasn't been stopped since. Four years later he went 1-1-1 in three fights with Evander Holyfield. No he didn't face the best Holyfield, but the Holyfield he faced wasn't as eroded and finished as the one who showed up to fight Chris Byrd and James Toney. In 36 rounds with Holyfield, despite having far less talent, Ruiz did pretty good and almost stopped Holyfield in their second fight.

After losing his first fight with Holyfield, he didn't lose again until he was decisioned by Roy Jones almost three years later. Some consider Jones, No I'm not among them, the best overall fighter in history. That doesn't make Ruiz a bum does it? Not to mention that from a style vantage point, Ruiz doesn't match up with Jones. Ruiz is vulnerable to being out boxed. In my opinion the best fight Holyfield fought against Ruiz was their rubber match that was declared a draw. I thought that was a terrible decision and Holyfield clearly won it. And that was because he boxed Ruiz instead of fighting and brawling with him.

On the flip side Ruiz has a clean win over former undisputed heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, who knocked out Lennox Lewis with one right hand. He put down Kirk Johnson when he was still thought to be an emerging force in the heavyweight division. Sure, now Johnson doesn't look so good after Klitschko mutilated him, but Ruiz did it before Vitali got to him. Ruiz also stopped contender Fres Oquendo in his last title defense. Is Oquendo the next Ike Ibeacbuchi, no. However he was undefeated until being caught by Tua in a fight that he was clearly winning. If my memory serves me correctly, it was Ike's close decision over Tua that led many to start calling him the Sonny Liston of the nineties.

John Ruiz is not the prettiest or most enjoyable fighter in boxing to watch. However, I've been told by fighters who have worked with him as a sparring partner, that he is much stronger than he looks, and works like a man possessed while training. He grabs, wrestles, mauls and ties his opponents up. And by the time the round ends, he landed just enough clean punches to catch the judges eyes.

Over the years John Ruiz has become joke material for boxing writers and fans, in much the same way that Orenthal James Simpson was for Leno and Letterman during the years 1993-96. Unlike Golota, Ruiz never lost to a fighter or lost a fight that he shouldn't have. If Golota had the heart and character of Ruiz, he'd be at the worst 1-0 versus Michael Grant and 2-0 versus Riddick Bowe.

John Ruiz is an overachiever who as of this writing has done twice what the more talented Andrew Golota has yet to do once. Win at least a piece of the heavyweight title. I respect John Ruiz. He's had ever reason to pack it in and get down on boxing after some tough defeats, but he's too tough to quit or listen to the naysayers. How many guys can say that they won a piece of the world heavyweight title once, let alone twice?

If today's heavyweight division is better than I think it is, than Ruiz deserves some credit and respect. Because if he loses to Golota, he'll unfairly and wrongly be reduced to being a bum by too many.