john ruiz vs kirk johnson info

[gardenweasel]

john ruiz-

decent opponents-holifield trilogy(everyone`s familiar with this-he was 1-1-1)...
jimmy thunder(decision win)
donnell nicholson(decision loss)
david tua(1st round k o loss)
sergei kobosev(decision loss)...who the hell is he?
last fight 12/15/01 vs holifield
reach-78 inches

kirk johnson-

decent opponents-larry donald(decision win)
oleg maskaev(win)
al cole(win and a draw)
dannell nicholson(decision win)
last fight-07/07/01(over one year)
reach-81 inches

aside from the holifield fights and tua(and larry donald is a decent win),not much serious opposition on either man`s ledger....maskaev has been exposed....

let`s have some info from our astute boxing guru`s....

 

[TheShrimp]

I figured Ruiz was a real chump seeing how much difficulty he had with Holyfield, but I think I was underestimating Holyfield in those fights. I tend to forget just how hard he fights. And Holyfield still looked pretty good against Rahman. So maybe Ruiz is better than everybody thinks. An early knockout against a guy like Tua might have shaded everyone's opinion, but Tua does have a good left hook. So, Ruiz may be underrated, but you're still only getting 2:1 on him.

He knows how to win a round, as evidenced by the Holyfield fights.

As for Johnson, he looked real good against Maskaev in that fight in Connecticut. He's got Lou Duva working with him in his corner which is a big plus. Of course, he's trying to take a man's belt, in what may be a decision and that's not always easy.

All told, Johnson's a more complete fighter with a good corner and I look for him to take out Ruiz in the late rounds. I don't like laying the 250, though. I may put 1 unit to win .25 on him. I'm really taking a pounding on fights lately, though.

Also, Saturday is the Black Rhino vs. The White Buffalo. You look at these two guys and you got to think that Etienne looks better but he's had some problems. I don't think he has a strong punch, but he's got a good chin. Botha's a real pro and has fought Tyson, Lewis, and Klitschko so he's hardly going to be intimidated by Etienne.

Etienne has real shaky defense, too. I watched him fight Lawrence Cley Bey where they were just teeing off on each other's heads. I think a more veteran fighter like Botha might be able to take advantage of that.

I think you can get about +120 on Botha. If I were watching it, i'd probably put a little on him, but I doubt I'm betting it.

TheShrimp

 

[gardenweasel]

shrimp

shrimp

nice observations.....the duva`s definitely carry some juice,but,don king is ruiz` promoter and that is scaring me from going big on kirk johnson(it`s pathetic when who the promoters are can shade a legitimate wager).....johnson has the skill and reach advantage(roughly 3.5 inches)....after seeing the holifield fights,johnson has to know to stay on the outside,give ruiz a boxing lesson and pick his spots to land the heavy shots...if he let`s ruiz pull the"one punch and a clinch" b.s. that holifield allowed he will possibly let king`s minions steal a decision....holifield`s performances in the ruiz fights are the classic examples of the old"styles make fights" adage....i still think ruiz is bogus and i fully expect johnson to bloody ruiz up.....but,he can`t let ruiz throw one pot shot and then grab and rough him up....we`ll see....an excellent espn fight tonight with robert allen(2 tough fights with bernard hopkins-he`s around 34-3)vs 6`3" tito mendosa(very hot guy who is getting better and can punch-27-3 with 20 something k.o.`s)........question-botha has been fighting tough guys and losing alot lately....aren`t you afraid he might fold in what could be a very physical fight?he`s nearing the end of the line,career wise..g.l.

 

[SMOKE JENSEN]

Well another boxing weekend on the way. I truley love this sport. Always makes the weekends better when there are some fights to watch. And i also enjoy exchanging views and predictions with Gardenweasel,Shrimp,Fletcher and the rest. Some really savy boxing fans.


Well I've said it many weeks ago and I still stand by it. Ruiz dose not impress me at all. I don't care what trouble he gave Holyfield. Holyfield has a way of looking like crap against certain fighters. And then great the very next fight. Why? Nobody will never know. That's just his nature. But i believe Ruiz will lose to Johnson. Johnson will i believe outwork him badly and ko him. While his arkward style might give Johnson trouble early on. Johnson is by far the more talented fighter. The harder puncher. And has the better chin. Look for Johnson to win and Holyfield to possibly get a shot at him. If not Holyfield then Tua.


I believe the black rhino will also outwork Botha. While I,m not impressed by Etienne by any means. I think Botha loses By decision.



A couple of early leans on up coming fights:

Tua to ko Moorer. To much power for Moorer to handle. When Tua catches him he'll go down hard.



I still like Vargas over Del la Hoya.


I believe Mayweather Takes Castillo By a legit decision next time. I also thought Mayweather lost last time.


Brian Mitchell over Juilo Green.

 

[TheShrimp]

Re: shrimp

Re: shrimp

question-botha has been fighting tough guys and losing alot lately....aren`t you afraid he might fold in what could be a very physical fight?he`s nearing the end of the line,career wise..g.l.

Yeah -- that's what I thought about the Holyfield in the Rahman fight.

After watching that Etienne - Cley Bey fight, I really lost respect for Etienne's power. He does have a lot of knockouts, but certainly not against anyone good. He's never fought anyone good. He's finally stepping in against a real professional who has had some tough fights.

Good spot for a little upset. I've only seen a line at Carib so far.

TheShrimp

 

[gardenweasel]

a quick note

a quick note

i put this in the butterbean thread by mistake....i recall in ruiz` last fight(with evander),his nose was thouroughly broken and bleeding profusely....i believe an injury like that may become chronic and with johnson`s long,talented jab, ruiz will probably bleed alot in this fight....

 

[badjab]

Have either of these guys fought within the last year? Johnson should win this one but I won't bet on it (been getting burned lately on the fights). Ruiz showed some good fundamentals in his bouts with Holyfield (plus the ability to take some shots) but I can't help but think how quickly he was taken apart by a solid heavyweight (Tua). Good luck, however you play this one.

 

[gardenweasel]

badjab

badjab

you and i both have been burned....my motto should be like a boxing tout i`ve read,"never in doubt,seldom right"....g.l.

 

[gardenweasel]

last note

last note

badjab-see above-ruiz fought holifield 12/15/01....it has been more than a year since johnson`s last fight(07/07/01)....something to think about.

 

[gardenweasel]

shrimp

shrimp

i just saw this on a boxing site-purse amounts for etienne-botha....botha getting $100,000 and etienne getting $600,000!!!!!!.......that`s shocks me ....i guess botha`s many bouts vs top opponents doesn`t buy him much respect...if i was botha,i`d be pissed at the cut....maybe you have a point regarding taking botha.....i just heard this is being fought on etienne`s home turf...that`s not good.

 

[gardenweasel]

austin-vargas

austin-vargas

tim austin is an excellent champion......and more than likely adan vargas won`t win tonight...but he is a quality fighter from excellent bloodlines(goyo vargas is an ex-champ)....i think +650 is way to high and worth a small wager(i wouldn`t wager if you are cash strapped)...but,i will always take a quality fighter with those odds...anything is possible in boxing and vargas is no punk....austin is 24-0 vargas is 37-3....austin is 31 yrs old...vargas is 29.........this is not a bold prediction,just taking a shot with a quality guy and long odds.....gl