John Ruiz is underappreciated, if you can believe it

[Mr. Ryan]

I don't know how, but over the years John Ruiz has slowly earned my respect. Over the years, he has traveled the globe and fought everyone, often in hostile territory in Europe. He hasn't ducked anyone and has been one of the most vocal supporters of unification.

Look at the list of guys he has fought

Jameel McCline: UD10
Ruslan Chagaev:LSD12
Nicolay Valuev:LMD12
James Toney:NC 12
Andrew Golata:UD12
Hasim Rahman: UD12
Roy Jones Jr.:UD12
Kirk Johnson: DQ10
Evander Holyfield x3: a win, a loss, a draw
David Tua: KO1

He went much farther than anyone expected or hoped for. He came back from one of the most devastating, violent knockouts in the history of the sport against David Tua. He came back from being absolutely schooled by Roy Jones. He survived an international humiliation against James Toney. Losing the title again to Nicolay Valuev.

As horrible a chore as it is to watch him fight, John Ruiz still keeps trucking along, willing to take on all challengers at 36. Think about this, a 36 year old former champ is calling out a 7-foot giant LIKE IT'S NOTHING!!!

Not too many former champions of his age can continue to take these kind of tough fights against top contenders and win most of them like he does. Sure, it's nothing pretty to watch, but you can see why it's effective for him.

If you don't watch any of his fights and you just look at what he was able to accomplish, it's easier to give him respect.

[warp1432]

I agree, but he's boring.

I usually don't mind jab and grab fighters as long as they work a lot in the clinch or before it (Which wouldn't really make them jab and grab, but that's the term for it...) however Ruiz mostly is jab and grab literally. He doesn't have really a high work rate like Hatton and he isn't accurate or technical like Hopkins.

I don't mind watching Hatton or Hopkins (I like watching them), but Ruiz I just can't.

[Derranged]

I respect him, its just that most of fights are boring.

[Thread Stealer]

Quitali Bitschko can only dream of having such a resume.

[My Name Is...]

I have said this before on an earlier thread, I got respect.

[WLAD OWNS]

The ****in guy just won't go away, he continues to wrestle and hug his way to victories over credible opponents.

[Derranged]

Quitali Bitschko can only dream of having such a resume.

Now you've done it!!!!!!!!!!

[warp1432]

Relax he said Qutiali, not Clinchsko.

[Verstyle]

For anyone that has boxed before, with matches. They'd say that he's a ****in true world champion. It takes some time to reach the top, but from a fan's stand point he's boring, even I've said it a few times.

[Steak]

hes a pretty clever guy actually. people give credit to Hopkins for being tricky...but when it gets down to it, hes basically just the same as Hopkins, except the guy never had half the skill Hopkins had.

Ruiz has been past his best since the Holyfield fights, where I heard he took a fairly bad beating in...but still manages to win fights over top guys.
its crazy...

Hell, his fight with Chagaev could have easily been a draw and Germans were booing the decision when he was robbed against Valuev. He got a gift against Golota, but since that fight he has really been a force in the division, amazingly.

and its pretty safe to say that out of the top 10 guys in the HW division right now, he has faced the best competition. gotta respect him for that!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6AI2lfIqRhE