The exciting but dirty rematch between 2 of the biggest punches of the heavyweight division, "Iron" Mike Tyson and Donovan "Razor" Ruddock. Their first fight ended with Mike Tyson winning by TKO but Ruddock put up such a spirited effort and withstood Tyson's punchers better than any opponent to date that a rematch was almost a given. More info below...
Donovan Ruddock was a Jamaican born Canadian heavyweight who had turned pro in 1983. He was undefeated in 10 fights before suffering his first loss at the hands of Dave Jaco, supposedly due to having an asthma attack between rounds. Ruddock bounced back however with 16 straight wins in a row, 14 by way of KO to establish himself as a feared puncher. His biggest scalps were former WBA World Heavyweight Champions Mike Weaver, Michael Dokes and James Smith, former NABF Heavyweight Champions Larry Alexander and James Broad and former Canada Heavyweight Champion Ken Lakusta. Ruddock had won the vacant Canada Heavyweight title in 1988 and then the WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight title in 1990. When Ruddock first met Tyson in March of 1991 everybody knew it was going to end in a knockout. Nobody was sure WHO would get knocked out but they knew it wasn't going the distance. Ruddock stood up to some of Tyson's best punchers in their first encounter, and came of the canvas twice, but was eventually stunned in the 7th round forcing the referee to stop the contest. Some people felt it was a premature stoppage while others felt it was justified, as nobody should be left semi-defenseless against Mike Tyson who could knock you out cold at any moment. After the loss to Tyson Ruddock's record stood at 25-2-1.
Mike Tyson had blasted his way through the heavyweight division since turning pro in 1985. Although he was hand fed victims and took a very specific path to get to the top there was no doubting he was, and is, the biggest name in the sport other than Muhammad Ali. Tyson won his first World Heavyweight Championship in 1986 and within 9 months he would capture 2 more to become the undisputed unified World Heavyweight Champion (WBC, WBA, IBF). It's hard to imagine now but Tyson was viewed as unstoppable in the 1980's. He possessed power and speed which was at the time unmatchable however his world was about to come crashing down... in Feb of 1990, amidst a turbulent personal life, Tyson was knocked out by 42-1 underdog, Buster Douglas. Tyson's image as an unstoppable beast was instantly shattered... Although Tyson bounced back strongly with back to back 1st round KO's against Alex Stewart and former NABF Cruiserweight Champion Henry Tillman, neither man was in Tyson's league and many people felt he was taking the easy road back to the top while avoiding serious contenders such as Evander Holyfield and George Foreman. Nonetheless in 1991 Tyson signed to face Donovan Ruddock, another well known power puncher who had the height and reach advantage making him a serious threat. Tyson was able to drop Ruddock twice but struggled to put him away and was even hit with some solid shots himself but eventually the ref called an end to the contest via TKO in Tyson's favour. Due to the controversy of what some felt was a premature stoppage a rematch was immediately signed. Tyson's record at the time was 40-1.
The rematch was similar to the first with Ruddock being caught off guard and dropped twice but coming back strongly to rock Tyson on multiple occasions. Both men were fighting dirty, although Tyson was the worst offender with repeated low blows, and both men had points deducted by referee Mills Lane. Ruddock wasn't as aggressive as he had been in the first encounter however he lasted the distance which many felt he wouldn't and looked good in the process landing more punchers on Tyson that anybody else had ever managed up to that point. Tyson on the other hand, although he won, looked sloppy and distracted... Tyson went to prison shortly afterwards.
In 1992 Ruddock would stop former WBA World heavyweight Champion Greg Page and then won the vacant IBC Heavyweight title by knocking out undefeated Phil Jackson. Ruddock was knocked out himself however by Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion, Lennox Lewis, during an eliminator for the WBC Heavyweight title. 3 years later and Ruddock challenged another heavy hitter in Tommy Morrison, for the vacant IBC Heavyweight title, but was knocked out in the 6th rd of an exciting contest. After a 3 year hiatus Ruddock returned in 1998 and went undefeated in 10 fights, which included winning the Canada Heavyweight title for a second time, before retiring in 2001. 14 years later at 51 years old, Donovan Ruddock would make a surprise return to the ring. He won his first 2 fights but was knocked out in his 3rd and promptly retired again for a final record of 40-6-1.
