TONEY DESTROYS RUIZ
By: Damon Gonzalez  
Photos: DGVET
 

New York: James “Lights Out” Toney 69-4-2 (43 KOs) dominated John “Quiet Man” Ruiz 41-5-1 (28 KOs) in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden, Ruiz known for his grabbing style of fight showed boxing fans a different approach of fighting, he fought Toney at a distance by using the jab and fighting straight up.
 

Toney applied the pressure early as they split rounds early in the fight, getting inside banging to the body of Ruiz consistently and coming over his jab with a straight right all night long.

Ruiz not showing good conditioning began to wear down as the fight went on, Toney took 1-2 rounds off moved well played possum with Ruiz conserving himself for the championship rounds, Continued to get under Ruiz skin by applying great counter shots and combinations to the head and body of Ruiz.  It clearly showed that Ruiz was fighting on will, and was slowing down as he grabbed on to Toney and looked straight up into the air.
 

Toney was credited the knock down in the seventh as he lunged towards and popped Ruiz, who fell back into the ropes and on to the canvas, replay in the Garden showed Toney stepping on his foot as the punch made contact, However the score stand as a knock down.

Ruiz continued to show his exhaustion in the later rounds, Toney continued to dominate with clean punching and that powerful right hand.
 

Toney slipped punches and had a good defense fighting Ruiz at his fight. The Judges scores were 116-111,116-111,115-112.
 

Ruiz after the fight went right to his locker room did not attend the press conference, Ruiz after making his official statement this is it…
 

Ruiz: “Toney is a tough guy to fight. He moves around a lot, I connected a lot…”I finished strong and I won this fight”
 

Ruiz made it official and announced his retirement after the defeat in the locker room. Congratulations to Freddie Roach and Team Toney for giving the heavyweight division some hope.