Ruiz/Toney on tonight?

[Johnny Toetags]

gonna watch it, dunno if it's live or replay, I haven't seen any spoilers. Probably will bore me to a drunken slumber but we'll see I guess.

[dy-no-mite3000]

Ruiz is back in ? ahem ? action again Saturday night (HBO, 10 ET) at New York's famed Garden, when he defends his title against James "Lights Out" Toney (68-4-2, 43 KOs), the former middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight champ who is now a heavyweight.

[Tauvington]

I'm excited. I'm 100% guaranteed (unless there's some bullshit draw) to watch a boxer I don't like lose tonight--smart mouth Toney or "hug you like I'm gay" Ruiz. I really don't care which one it is, either.

[Johnny Toetags]

Oh yeah, I forgot about Ruiz's fucking trainer... ungh

[Johnny Toetags]

lol @ the swearing in RUYI'S coner comment*

[Johnny Toetags]

decent punchess isnthat round.

[Johnny Toetags]

im feckenwasted man. buh bye ryuiz.

[elgigante]

James Toney is the new WBA Heavyweight champion of the world via a UD win over John Ruiz. Thank god that fucker is done as champ

[dy-no-mite3000]

that makes me fucking happy thanks man i just saw kung fu hustle and came here first knowing you boys would let me know who won.

how close were the cards?

[elgigante]

3-4 point win for toney on all of them. Toney/Byrd unification could be fun, especially if it is in detroit

[dy-no-mite3000]

SO tony is now the WBC champ?

and there are still only 3 or 4 major alphabet belts recognized world wide right?

also whats up with the Hopkins fight coming up? is he defending all belts? some? is it a mandatory defense etc?

[elgigante]

1.Toney is the WBA champ. Vitali Klitschko is the WBC champ
2. There are a million belts out there but only four are considered major. WBA,WBO,IBF and WBC
3.Im pretty sure its all his belts. Its not a mandatory, he is just taking on whom the public would like him to fight

[dy-no-mite3000]

i know BH is fighting a guy and they guy is getting 1.5 what is BH getting?

btw sorry for my ig'nance but what is the name of the guy who he is fighting as I do not know much about him :(

[dy-no-mite3000]

1.5 million i ment.

plus juan valdez

[Tauvington]

1.Toney is the WBA champ. Vitali Klitschko is the WBC champ
2. There are a million belts out there but only four are considered major. WBA,WBO,IBF and WBC
3.Im pretty sure its all his belts. Its not a mandatory, he is just taking on whom the public would like him to fight

Elg, I'm just curious, how much stock do you put in the WBO belt, man? I mean...after the main 3, it's certainly the most prominent of the lesser orgs, but....to me, it's still just a worthless, extra strap. There have been times when the best fighter in a division was the WBO champ (Barrera and Naz are the first 2 that come to mind...maybe Calzaghe also, though I don't want to admit it), but that doesn't exactly validate the WBO in and of itself, I don't think. I guess (through the years) it's largely seemed like a European title to me, you know what I mean? I realize that plenty of boxers from other continents have held it also, but....look at the big shots who were champions for that organization for long periods of time--Chris Eubank, Steve Collins, Dariusz Michalczewski, Nasem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe, etc. I don't know...I think it's too bad that a world title in boxing (or just the idea of having a world title) doesn't mean jack shit anymore. You dig?

[elgigante]

WBO is still number 4 in terms of credibility, but IMO gives the fighter holding its strap a sense of mainstream respect. Because of guys like Barrera and Hamed defending that belt , it has obtained some value.I mean for example if the Brewster/Golota fight was for the WBU belt instead of the WBO do you think HBO would televise it. And anywho it doeswnt matter to me about belts too much. The Ring champion of the division is who i look at as the top guy usually.

Dyno Hopkins is fighting undefeated Jermain Taylor. Taylor is a former olympian who is thought by many to be the guy who will take over the middleweight reigns when Bernard hangs them up . I dont think he is ready though for a guy with the Experience level of Hopkins

[Tauvington]

WBO is still number 4 in terms of credibility, but IMO gives the fighter holding its strap a sense of mainstream respect. Because of guys like Barrera and Hamed defending that belt , it has obtained some value.I mean for example if the Brewster/Golota fight was for the WBU belt instead of the WBO do you think HBO would televise it. And anywho it doeswnt matter to me about belts too much. The Ring champion of the division is who i look at as the top guy usually.

Dyno Hopkins is fighting undefeated Jermain Taylor. Taylor is a former olympian who is thought by many to be the guy who will take over the middleweight reigns when Bernard hangs them up . I dont think he is ready though for a guy with the Experience level of Hopkins

Hey, I can rep you again...cool.

[elgigante]

Hey Tauv

G stacka at the dawg says that Ruiz has called it quits. Im gonna go look for sure on ESPN for confirmation

[Tauvington]

I mean for example if the Brewster/Golota fight was for the WBU belt instead of the WBO do you think HBO would televise it.

Well...I feel it largely depends on the boxers involved, don't you think, Elg? I mean, HBO had no problem televising the rematch between Toney and Griffin for the WBU LHW belt back when I was a senior in high school--it was because the fight was between two of the top guys at that weight. Don't get me wrong, dude, I'll get behind anything that helps boxers get exposure and credibility, but the number of titles in this sport nowadays could bury a fan up to his neck.
;)

[Tauvington]

Hey Tauv

G stacka at the dawg says that Ruiz has called it quits. Im gonna go look for sure on ESPN for confirmation


Elg, WHAT???? I'll be waiting for you to get back, man.

[elgigante]

true. HBO also doesnt mention belts outside of the big 4 it seems. And its true about Ruiz being done for good. check ESPN.com's boxing section

[elgigante]

http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/box/2005/0430/photo/a_toney2_frt.jpg

VIVA TONEY :)

[Tauvington]

I'm going to go have a look at this shit, man.

[Tauvington]

Rafael (the writier) was kind of being a jerk in that story, I thought.

"If this was indeed Ruiz's last fight, it was a lackluster affair. But it wasn't just the ponderous Ruiz's fault. Toney didn't do all that much either, but the judges liked his work better, scoring it 116-111 and 115-112 (twice). ESPN.com scored it 115-113 for Ruiz."

Well...Toney did enough to CLEARLY win the fight. Pffft. And Ruiz felt he did enough to retain his belt?? I think his body has been taken over by the spirit of Angel Manfredy.

[Tauvington]

Also, wasn't the actual scoring 116-111 twice, and 115-112 once? Did he even get the #s right?

[Sharkey]

It's such a glorious day in heavyweight boxing, as Fat Middleweight beat Huggy Bear by decision, and has now laid claim to one of the three major belts that are out there....

Where the fuck is Renaldo Snipes when you need him?

[Oliver Klosov]

Toney's interview after the fight was gold.

And who the hell is doing the scoring on ESPN.com?

[dy-no-mite3000]

http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/box/2005/0430/photo/a_toney2_frt.jpg

VIVA TONEY :)
hes got better titties than badridge!

[Beorn O'Brophy]

Vitali Klitschko would absolutely destroy Toney. I want to see this. Let him tune up on Chris Byrd first, then destroy Toney, unify the belts, drop one for not defending it, let Wladimir get that belt by destroying whoever takes that belt, and then they secure their dream as being brother-heavyweight champions.

Then they retire and we get some fresh blood in the heavyweight division.

[CROKICK]

Rafael (the writier) was kind of being a jerk in that story, I thought.

"If this was indeed Ruiz's last fight, it was a lackluster affair. But it wasn't just the ponderous Ruiz's fault. Toney didn't do all that much either, but the judges liked his work better, scoring it 116-111 and 115-112 (twice). ESPN.com scored it 115-113 for Ruiz."

Well...Toney did enough to CLEARLY win the fight. Pffft. And Ruiz felt he did enough to retain his belt?? I think his body has been taken over by the spirit of Angel Manfredy.
I thought it was quite evident that Toney won and I thought he could have stopped John if he was more agressive. He had nothing to fear from Ruiz as you can see his slow ugly punches coming a mile away. The punches he landed which were half as much Toney landed almost exclusively on James shoulders. They could fight ten more times Ruiz has no advantage in the matchup. And Drew, yeah Toney can take Ruiz' punches and he is the tougher man. :)

[dy-no-mite3000]

happy bday crokick!

[elgigante]

It's such a glorious day in heavyweight boxing, as Fat Middleweight beat Huggy Bear by decision, and has now laid claim to one of the three major belts that are out there....

Where the fuck is Renaldo Snipes when you need him?

Jose Ribalta>Renaldo Snipes :p

[CROKICK]

happy bday crokick!
Thank you very much.

[Tauvington]

Thank you very much.

Dynomite is the shit, Cro. He's an outstanding individual.