John Ruiz is underappreciated, if you can believe it

[kayjay]

It became fashionable to rip him when he had a title, but now he is by far underrated and underappreciated.

[STEELHEAD]

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.

did you see his last fight? holy sht!!!
he should pay us to watch his fights. the closest he should be aloud near a ring is the frontt row!

but then again with all the clowns in hvwt division. and the pathetic wlad fighting scared in ibragimov fight. maybe he does fit in!

[WLAD OWNS]

Quitali Bitschko can only dream of having such a resume.

I see you're back to trolling and hating Vitali again every single day, you had toned down the hatred for awhile...You need to get back on your medication or check yourself back into the mental hospital, you're a disturbing, perverted freak.

[warp1432]

Kind of like your hatred and jealiousy of David Haye?

[Derranged]

Relax he said Qutiali, not Clinchsko.

Oh I dont care, I meant that the usual suspects will be over that one....

[rizkybizness]

Ruiz just opened a new facility around here, it's called the "John Ruiz School of Clinching". I heard Ricky Hatton is the Director of Operations and serves as a part time instructor.

I got respect for him even though I'd rather not see him fight.

I don't know if anyone here saw a thread I made a while back, it's a vid of Tua rendering Ruiz unconscious. This is the best Ruiz fight I've seen.

[MANGLER]

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

Damn skippy.

[ferocity]

i've wondered and asked why he isn't like more, if you just now are respecting the guy then that kind of ignorant, he's been in the game for a long time, lewis didn't want to fight him, lewis a guy who fought henry akinwande if you remember his fight

[-Antonio-]

Ruiz can definitely win another title, it's crazy. I have a lot of respect for the fact he's stayed relevant for so long.

[boxing_great]

Relax he said Qutiali, not Clinchsko.

lmfao @ clinshsko