By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist
LAS VEGAS, NV (IB – March 01, 2003) – We witnessed the making of history in one of the most superb performances of the sweet science of boxing in a long time.
Roy Jones Jr. (48-1, 38 KOs) purely dominated John "The Quietman" Ruiz (38-5-1,
27 KOs) and captured the WBA Heavyweight crown! While a lot of boxing observers
and enthusiasts had expected to see Roy utilize is crafty array of foot speed to
avoid the bigger man in Ruiz, Roy showed us that in addition to the oblivious
skills we already knew his possessed, he also demonstrated that he can flat-out
FIGHT! He took the best that Ruiz had to offer and inflicted much more damage on
Ruiz than was imposed upon himself. In the end, this is what made the
difference, period. There should not be any excuses that John had a bad night,
the referee allowed too much clinching etc. John Ruiz came to the table in
supreme shape, he fought the same style of fight that he always fights. The only
difference on this night, he faced one of the best in the business that has ever
laced up a pair of gloves. It was as if Muhammad Ali had come back in a second
life as a southpaw!I think Roy stated it best when folks told him he was crazy for taking the Ruiz fight and he would get killed, “What, kill who? Come on baby, ya’ll must have forgot!”
Ruiz camp was unable to attend the post-fight conference per John was taken to a local hospital to assess the damage that he suffered to his nose. I truly believe Ruiz made a bad choice in his attempt to bolster the excitement leading up to the weigh-in by referencing Roy Jones Jr. as a ho and that he was dressed like the pimp. Roy stated at the post-fight press conference “By the way, that ho sure didn’t give him his money tonight did she? She sure didn’t pay off tonight did she? That ho was something else wasn’t she? That’s what they called me right, okay”
How fitting that Roy wore the North Carolina #23 Jordan warm up to the post-fight conference. Jones provided the boxing fans the same type of amazement that Air Jordan brings to the basketball fans. Roy Jones Jr. is to boxing what Jordan is to basketball and its great to have the opportunity to experience this era of these two distinguished athletes showcasing their phenomenal talents!
In closing, Roy is on top of the world and has plenty of options available to him for more lucrative paydays either at the heavyweight division against Byrd, even Tyson, or he can come back down to the light heavyweight division and silence Antonio Tarver for attempting to disrespect Roy at the press conference by calling out Roy for a challenge.
In the meantime, the King has left the building and it wasn’t Elvis.