Was John Ruiz avoided?

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Bit of a random topic but Lennox never fought him, Tyson never fought him, neither Klitschko brother fought him.

Pretty sure he was Lennox’s mandatory around 1999-2000, then there were rumours Mike might fight him for the WBA belt to set up the Lewis super fight and either Klitschko could have potentially unified with him at certain points in their careers.

Not saying he would have beaten any of them or even been competitive with most of them, but I just think it’s strange that Ruiz was top 10 or even a top 5 guy in the division for so many years yet never crossed paths with any of these guys.

Maybe they just didn’t want to deal with Ruiz’s horrible clinching style or they didn’t want any smoke with Norman Stone.

[KTFOKING]

When you talk about a spoiler style, Ruiz definitely comes to mind. He was horrible to fight and if the fight went rounds, good chance you were going to be in a tough fight. Even if you won, Ruiz was going to make it ugly and frustrate the crap out of you lol.

Miguel Vazquez has/had a little Ruiz in him.

[Fanofreason]

He lost his title to a Light HW. Zero money In Fighting him. And was boring fights. He wasn’t avoided.

[creekrat77]

He got annihilated by Tua along the way.. prob not a lot to gain over him after that blowout

[KTFOKING]

He got annihilated by Tua along the way.. prob not a lot to gain over him after that blowout

He became champion after the KO and beat/competed with a lot of solid HWs afterwards. Holyfield fought very well in the Lewis rematch and then was fighting even with Ruiz...Many had him even losing the first fight.

Nah, the Tua KO wasn't why people didn't want to fight him, dude was just a huge spoiler and a tough night of work.

[Marchegiano]

I mean, technically yes, and looking back it's easy to make an argument for Ruiz being better than McCall, but, at the time it was seen as the better fight so folks don't like to call it a duck, but, facts are he was the mando and Lennox got stripped for refusing to fight him. TBF, even the bodies were cool with switching Ruiz for McCall, John had to sue to get his title shot actually.

I could be wrong, but, I think this case is why the WBA invented the WBA Super. That way they have two titles they can legally use as "title fights" and give their real champion a little wiggle room for their mandos...you know, before they went belt crazy and bastardized the whole idea.

[ShaneMosleySr]

No.

He was Lewis’s WBA mandatory but it was an absolute joke that he was named the mandatory. He had three losses and got obliterated in 19 seconds in his one step up fight. Lewis fought Michael Grant who was infinitely more deserving at the time.

He went 1-1-1 against Holyfield to win and keep the WBA. He won the second fight and the third fight was a draw. No one wanted to see Holyfield-Ruiz 4 so he got to keep the title after going 1-1-1 in a three fight span.

He lost his heavyweight title to TWO DIFFERENT FORMER MIDDLEWEIGHTS. He allowed two men do what no one has done since Bob Fitzsimmons.

He was awful and we need to stop pretending he wasn’t.

[paulf]

Hell to the no. Its easy to say that looking back now, but no. Ruiz had no wins over anyone back then and was just some dude that had been KOd by Tua and got his ranking by beating a long string of nobodies. I was watching boxing every weekend then and I don't remember any of those fights between the Tua KO and the Holyfield fight for the vacant being televised at all; they damn sure weren't on HBO.

Grant was a much hotter prospect/marketable fight. That was a big fight at the time! According to Google, Don King paid Lewis on the side to trash the WBA belt and get the Grant fight done. He really thought Grant was gonna KO Lewis.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Quiet man John was voided, not avoided.

[War Room]

He lost his title to a Light HW. Zero money In Fighting him. And was boring fights. He wasn’t avoided.

I think he was avoided only because nobody gave a fook about John Ruiz. Like you said, zero money in fighting him.