Ruiz eyes Lewis shot

John Ruiz believes victory over Roy Jones in Las Vegas tonight will finally earn him the respect he deserves and put him at the front of the queue to fight Lennox Lewis.

Ruiz was so desperate for a fight which he believes will vastly improve his future marketability that he agreed to fight without a purse, picking up solely a percentage of the promotional profits. Jones is earning a flat $10m (€9.2m).

If Ruiz does succeed in repelling the audacious challenge of light-heavyweight champion Jones, whom he will outweigh by around two-and-a-half stones, a fight with Lewis is an increasingly realistic option.

WBA champion Ruiz would in theory meet Chris Byrd in the final of his promoter Don King’s unification tournament but, with King reportedly locked in talks with Lewis, a June clash would surely be on the cards if Mike Tyson pulls out of a projected rematch for more preparation.

Ruiz said: “I really want Lennox Lewis but he won’t look at me. I think I’m entitled to a little more respect from him.

“Maybe he noticed that I put Evander Holyfield down and that’s something he failed to do in his two fights.

“Tyson, Lewis and the Klitschkos have all turned me down and when I beat Roy Jones, who is supposed to be a superstar, I might get a better profile.”

King certainly seems confident of tying Lewis to a $40m (€37m), three-fight deal to wind up his career and it is inconceivable that Ruiz does not figure in his plans.

Lewis will be ringside with King and the promoter said: “Lennox, the emperor, is looking to find a worthy challenger.

“When it is over the winner will fight the emperor. Johnny has a bright future when he goes in and knocks out Roy Jones.

“Then he will fight Chris Byrd or go directly to the emperor. We want to go in the right procession.”

Victory for Jones would be more problematic for Lewis, as a fight with the light-heavyweight king is a no-go for size reasons, leaving only Byrd – whom Lewis previously sidestepped for $1m (€900,000) and a four-wheel drive from King.

The weight of boxing history suggests Lewis ought not to be too worried.

Michael Spinks is the only reigning light-heavyweight champion ever to gain a portion of the heavyweight crown when he beat Larry Holmes in 1985. But three years later his bid for the undisputed title lasted just 91 seconds against Mike Tyson.

Cornishman Bob Fitzsimmons is the only man to bridge the gap, having moved up from middleweight to claim the title from Jim Corbett in 1897. He later also won the light-heavyweight title.

Jones admitted: “It hasn’t happened in a hundred years and there is a reason why it hasn’t happened in a hundred years – it is not an easy thing to accomplish.

“I’ve got a real challenge. I know he’s going to push me around and I know I can’t let him hit me cleanly to the head.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to get whipped. I’ve got the best defence on the market right now. I am an exceptional lighter guy. I am reaching for the sky.”

Jones was 33lbs lighter than Ruiz at the weigh-in but as he turned up wearing a tracksuit the discrepancy is believed to be much greater.

Jones’ camp won the first battle at the scales when his trainer Alton Merkerson left Ruiz’s manager Norman Stone with a bloody lip.

It will take a performance of massive proportions for Jones to emerge successful in the main event. But if any lighter guy can do it, that man is Roy Jones.