A 16x20 inches Color Action Photo from his fight against John Ruiz. This was the fight that enabled Roy Jones to cement his boxing legacy. Comes with our lifetime certificate of authenticity!
Roy Jones Jr £125.00
Comes with Photograph from the Signing!
Once in a great while, there's a match-up that's so intriguing, it even gets the most jaded boxing experts excited. Speculation was a verbal volleyball for weeks leading up to the John Ruiz-Roy Jones, Jr. heavyweight championship. Could Jones do what only one man had accomplished in boxing history-to go from middleweight, to light heavyweight, to heavyweight champion? Would Ruiz's 30+ lb. weight advantage be too much for Jones? Could Jones handle a real heavyweight's punching power? Would Jones' speed be enough to overcome Ruiz's bulk? And finally-as the outcome of this fight would prove-is Roy Jones, Jr. really one of boxing's all-time greats?
"If that ain't Superman, I don't know who is. He fulfilled a prophecy. We've seen something that rarely comes to pass."
- Don King
"This means I am pound for pound the baddest mother who has ever put on boxing gloves."
-Roy Jones, Jr.
The fight's most bizarre scene took place between the tenth and eleventh rounds. In an effort to exhort their fighter, Ruiz's corner including manager Norman Stone, tore into their fighter with an expletive-laced barrage that would make a sailor blush. They knew extraordinary efforts were needed to turn Ruiz around, as his title was in serious jeopardy. Roy Jones, Jr. short-circuited any adrenalin Ruiz may have had with a big lead right in the eleventh. The chase continued in the twelfth-Ruiz was desperate for a knockout.
But Roy Jones, Jr. could barely contain his smile for the
entire round. With ten seconds left, Jones was apart from
Ruiz, pumping exultant fists in the air, while Ruiz looked
on helplessly, unable to change his destiny. Jones had risen
to the challenge, probably his toughest test since fighting
James Toney in 1994. A wild celebration ensued in the ring,
the crowd acknowledging they had just seen what no one had
seen in over 100 years. A middleweight had climbed the ladder
to heavyweight, and was now standing at the pinnacle of
boxing's most celebrated division.
Watch Boxing Video of Roy Jones Jr vs John Ruiz:
This was a virtuoso performance, a punishing yet artistically crafted piece of unexpected dominance. Sure Jones made more use of his jab. But he really changed his style very little and forced Ruiz to fight on his terms. His hand-speed was blinding, his punching style as unorthodox as ever, his footwork and movement made him greased-pig elusive on the ropes. His unanimous decision victory proved that his speed was surely a match for heavyweight power, that Roy Jones, Jr. can handle a heavyweight punch, that Roy will stand up to any legitimate boxing challenge.
