After winning defending his light heavyweight title successfully for 5 years, Roy Jones signed to fight WBA heavyweight champ John Ruiz on March 1, 2003 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. Jones used trainer Mackie Shilstone to help him bulk up to 200 pounds for the bout, a challenge he needed to motivate himself with a new goal. Ruiz had won the title from Evander Holyfield, but I never liked him or respected him. To make things worse, his trainer Norman Stone was a foul-mouthed, arrogant and annoying sight to have to look at every time Ruiz fought. I was excited for this bout as soon as I heard it was made and knew in my heart that Roy would win.
Back in 2003, one of my favorite things to do was read my boxing magazines when they came in the mail. I always had 2 or 3 on the steps in our foyer going upstairs, ready to grab and check the latest ring news. I went over my brother’s apartment to watch the bout on HBO pay-per-view, always looking forward to what Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and George Foreman had to say.
Roy looked muscular and strong when he took his robe off and despite the fact that he was outweighed by 26 lbs., Roy was confident and sharp from the opening bell. He landed sharp jabs and right hands, easily avoided Ruiz’s punches, proving he was the far better fighter. Ruiz was tentative and apprehensive and after two rounds, I knew he had no chance of winning. In the fourth round, a sharp Jones right hand wobbled Ruiz, proving Roy could hurt a heavyweight and delighting the crowd.
Jones was dominant throughout, was never hurt and on my scorecard, won 10 out of 12 rounds. The best thing Ruiz did all night was complain to referee Jay Nady that he wasn’t being allowed to fight his fight, which meant grabbing and hugging and not much else. Norman Stone had aggravated Larry Merchant so much by the end of the fight, that he said “One of the best things about this fight is that we won’t have to see Norman Stone again.” Jim Lampley quickly responded “That’ll be good. That’ll be really good!”
Seeing Roy Jones win the heavyweight title is one of my favorite moments in 40 plus years of being a boxing fan. I watched the VHS tape of that fight over and over as I always did with great fights in the days before YouTube tv. My only regret about that fight is that I wish Roy would have retired afterwards and gone off into the sunset with an almost perfect record.
Whatever the case, Roy Jones winning the heavyweight crown on March 1, 2003 vs. John Ruiz is a true ‘Boxing Classic.’
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