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Ruiz: Let's have true champs!
"Quiet Man" wants to fight the best...
November 12, 2004
By Dennis Flaherty
Photo: Ed Mulholland
********* spoke with John Ruiz about tonight's defense of his WBA heavyweight title against Andrew Golota. Headlining promoter Don KIng's mega-heavyweight extravaganza at "The Mecca," Madison Square Garden in New York City, Ruiz realizes tonight is his time to shine. In an refreshing and surprisingly candid interview, "The Quiet Man" revealed that he plans to change his style to a more crowd pleasing one, to fight the best out there and to return boxing to a day and age when the fans got their money's worth.
One question has always been which Andrew Golota will show up? With all of his odd antics in the past, as far a fouling, biting, quitting and the general fear that he is an unstable heavyweight contender, do you have any thoughts, fears or insecurities about his potential behavior?
Not really. He behaved well against Chris Byrd and really seems to be at his best. And to be honest, I have to be concerned about my own mental game, MY insecurities, not his, you know? I have to be secure with myself to take me to another level. So no, I'm not worried about him at all.
How do you feel about the Don King unification?
(Jumps in) Well, that's a perfect question. The unification all depends on the prettiest fighter. They don't want to see an ugly fighter. They don't like the way I fight and I can understand that. I am trying to change my fighting style to make it more crowd pleasing. The fans want to see a prettier fight and they deserve it in a way. My style is not pleasing, I take the heat for it, you know? There is so much pressure not only to win but to perform for my fans; they want to see a perfect fight. I want to give it to them, but when you're in there it gets difficult to please your fans and keep winning, you know, be the champ. But Don King wants good looking fights. He should, so I'll keep trying. I want to be the man to take Lennox Lewis' place as the best heavyweight out there. I think If I change my style a bit fans will take to me more and want to recognize me as the champ.
Who do you feel is the best heavyweight out there for you to fight?
(Smiling) Right now it's Golota, of course, but I think Vitali Klitschko would be my best opponent. I've fought tall heavyweights in the amateurs and did very well. I also think that would be a great chance for me to really make a new name for myself. Beating him could wipe out a lot of these other fights that fans consider ugly wins. I'm not saying they were pretty, but to beat a fighter like Vitali would boost my name and change the public's image of me. I think with his size, I could really work his body well. I always had success with big guys and digging to the body. But for now, it's 100 percent on Golota because he's been looking really good lately and this should be a really good fight for the fans.
Let's talk about some rematches, I'll shoot some names and you let me know what you think.
OK
Holyfield?
(Laughing) I think we have had enough. Three is enough, don't you think? I'm glad he is fighting Larry Donald, because he's more of a defensive fighter and it should be a safe fight for Evander. I think Evander could win by knockout in the later rounds, since Donald doesn't hit that hard and is more of a defensive fighter, kind of like Chris Byrd. But, no, I think fighting Holyfield would be a step backward, I want to fight the best, top fighters, Vitali Klitschko, big names, you know?
What about Byrd? He has a title.
Yeah, that's true, but that probably wouldn't get me the respect I'm looking for because fans will say he doesn't hit hard, etc., but I'd probably end up fighting him.
Do you think he hits hard?
(Ruiz Smiling) Well, about as hard as Larry Donald, just kidding, sure, sure, he hits hard.
Then giving Fres Oqendo or Rahman a rematch, or maybe even Roy Jones Jr. if he decides to move up to heavyweight, or maybe James Toney, could they get you the respect?
Fres and Rahman, no, because as I've said that's a move backwards, been there done that, you know? Jones, no way, I'm too disappointed in him. He had a chance to give me a rematch and he didn't. I'm over him now. Toney, I don't know, let's see how he does in our division. I really want to move forward, fight the best fighters like they did before. I do not want to move backwards and fight the same guys again. It doesn't make sense. Let's all fight the best and have true champs.
.....I originaly thought Ruiz by ugly decision, but now it sounds like he may open up a little and expose himself to a knockout. If he does then it will be a big mistake and Golota will take him out. I can only hope.
"Quiet Man" wants to fight the best...
November 12, 2004
By Dennis Flaherty
Photo: Ed Mulholland
********* spoke with John Ruiz about tonight's defense of his WBA heavyweight title against Andrew Golota. Headlining promoter Don KIng's mega-heavyweight extravaganza at "The Mecca," Madison Square Garden in New York City, Ruiz realizes tonight is his time to shine. In an refreshing and surprisingly candid interview, "The Quiet Man" revealed that he plans to change his style to a more crowd pleasing one, to fight the best out there and to return boxing to a day and age when the fans got their money's worth.
One question has always been which Andrew Golota will show up? With all of his odd antics in the past, as far a fouling, biting, quitting and the general fear that he is an unstable heavyweight contender, do you have any thoughts, fears or insecurities about his potential behavior?
Not really. He behaved well against Chris Byrd and really seems to be at his best. And to be honest, I have to be concerned about my own mental game, MY insecurities, not his, you know? I have to be secure with myself to take me to another level. So no, I'm not worried about him at all.
How do you feel about the Don King unification?
(Jumps in) Well, that's a perfect question. The unification all depends on the prettiest fighter. They don't want to see an ugly fighter. They don't like the way I fight and I can understand that. I am trying to change my fighting style to make it more crowd pleasing. The fans want to see a prettier fight and they deserve it in a way. My style is not pleasing, I take the heat for it, you know? There is so much pressure not only to win but to perform for my fans; they want to see a perfect fight. I want to give it to them, but when you're in there it gets difficult to please your fans and keep winning, you know, be the champ. But Don King wants good looking fights. He should, so I'll keep trying. I want to be the man to take Lennox Lewis' place as the best heavyweight out there. I think If I change my style a bit fans will take to me more and want to recognize me as the champ.
Who do you feel is the best heavyweight out there for you to fight?
(Smiling) Right now it's Golota, of course, but I think Vitali Klitschko would be my best opponent. I've fought tall heavyweights in the amateurs and did very well. I also think that would be a great chance for me to really make a new name for myself. Beating him could wipe out a lot of these other fights that fans consider ugly wins. I'm not saying they were pretty, but to beat a fighter like Vitali would boost my name and change the public's image of me. I think with his size, I could really work his body well. I always had success with big guys and digging to the body. But for now, it's 100 percent on Golota because he's been looking really good lately and this should be a really good fight for the fans.
Let's talk about some rematches, I'll shoot some names and you let me know what you think.
OK
Holyfield?
(Laughing) I think we have had enough. Three is enough, don't you think? I'm glad he is fighting Larry Donald, because he's more of a defensive fighter and it should be a safe fight for Evander. I think Evander could win by knockout in the later rounds, since Donald doesn't hit that hard and is more of a defensive fighter, kind of like Chris Byrd. But, no, I think fighting Holyfield would be a step backward, I want to fight the best, top fighters, Vitali Klitschko, big names, you know?
What about Byrd? He has a title.
Yeah, that's true, but that probably wouldn't get me the respect I'm looking for because fans will say he doesn't hit hard, etc., but I'd probably end up fighting him.
Do you think he hits hard?
(Ruiz Smiling) Well, about as hard as Larry Donald, just kidding, sure, sure, he hits hard.
Then giving Fres Oqendo or Rahman a rematch, or maybe even Roy Jones Jr. if he decides to move up to heavyweight, or maybe James Toney, could they get you the respect?
Fres and Rahman, no, because as I've said that's a move backwards, been there done that, you know? Jones, no way, I'm too disappointed in him. He had a chance to give me a rematch and he didn't. I'm over him now. Toney, I don't know, let's see how he does in our division. I really want to move forward, fight the best fighters like they did before. I do not want to move backwards and fight the same guys again. It doesn't make sense. Let's all fight the best and have true champs.
.....I originaly thought Ruiz by ugly decision, but now it sounds like he may open up a little and expose himself to a knockout. If he does then it will be a big mistake and Golota will take him out. I can only hope.
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