Donovan Ruddock
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Donovan Ruddock (born December 21, 1963 in St. Catherine, Jamaica), also known as Razor Ruddock, was a Canadian heavyweight boxer. He was a promising Heavyweight of the early 1990s, who was known for a powerful left hook, which he called "The Smash". One of the best exhibitions of his left hook power, was his brutal 1990 knockout of former Heavyweight champion Michael Dokes.
Ruddock fought as a professional boxer from 1982 until 2001, winning the Canandian heavyweight championship as well as other minor title belts. Although Ruddock is seen as an underachiever, at one time he was a feared heavyweight, and both Evander Holyfield and George Foreman refused to fight him. Ruddock also owned a win over Lennox Lewis in the amateurs.
Early in his pro career Ruddock picked up wins against Mike Weaver, James Smith, and Dokes to set up a 1991 bout with Mike Tyson. His first fight with Tyson was seen as a controversial ending by some, who argued it was stopped prematurely by referee Richard Steele. Ruddock had stunned Tyson in the 6th round of their fight with an uppercut. Tyson, has repeatedly said that Ruddock is the hardest puncher he has ever fought. A rematch between Ruddock and Tyson was made in June, 1991 and Tyson again won the fight, knocking Ruddock down twice en route to winning a decision.
After losing to Tyson for the second time, Ruddock picked up victories over Greg Page and undefeated Phil Jackson (Boxer), setting up a bout with Lewis, a bout which was seen as an elimination bout for the opportunity to face the winner of the upcoming Riddick Bowe - Holyfield match. Many people predicted Ruddock would win, due to the fact that he was able to give Tyson trouble and Lewis' relative inexperience, however Ruddock was KO'd in 2 rounds by a devastating hook from Lewis.
Ruddock's last notable fight was against Tommy Morrison in 1995. Ruddock had Morrison down, and seemed to be close to stopping Morrison, but was caught by a clean left hook that he never recovered from, and was stopped in the 7th round. After the loss to Morrison, Ruddock continued to fight until 2001 and never lost a fight, but took on marginal competition.
Ruddock may be remembered as an underachiever due to the fact that he never won a fight against a big name opponnent. His four most notable fights against Lewis, Morrison, and twice against Tyson, were all losses.
Also an inventor-entrepreneur, Ruddock's product the Boxer Compactor is available at www.razorruddock.com
