Columnist Dean Juipe: Fighter says Ruiz would beat Jones

Dean Juipe

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2002 | 9:38 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

Montell Griffin has experience with such things.

The Las Vegas resident has fought undisputed light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr. twice and is the only man to have beaten him, plus he spars with heavyweight contender Chris Byrd at the Nevada Partners Gym.

So if there is anyone at all who might have a newsworthy perspective on Jones' chance to win a proposed March 1 fight at the Thomas & Mack Center with World Boxing Association heavyweight champ John Ruiz, it would seem to be Griffin.

Surprisingly, he's adamant in his view. While others may waffle as they weigh the pros and cons of a man who normally fights at 175 pounds taking on a 230-pound champion, Griffin replies without a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"No way Roy beats John Ruiz," Griffin said. "In fact, if Roy wanted to fight a heavyweight, Ruiz is the worst guy he could have picked out."

Jones hasn't quite agreed to the fight despite making an incremental commitment. Word is he's fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and contemplating his options.

He can stay at 175 and continue fighting men of lesser skills, or he can take a bold step and jump two divisions and attempt to become only the second man -- Michael Spinks was the first -- to move from light heavy directly to the heavyweight championship.

It's a risk, as at least three great former light heavyweight champs could attest. Archie Moore, Billy Conn and Bob Foster all tried it and failed.

Spinks got away with it in September of 1985 when he overcame 6-1 odds and a 21-pound deficit to gain a unanimous decision over then-champion Larry Holmes at the Riviera. In their rematch the following April, Spinks won by split decision at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Two years later, of course, he was crushed in one round by Mike Tyson.

But Ruiz isn't Tyson, and Jones is probably better than Spinks. Hence, there are those who like Jones' chances if he elects to take the fight with Ruiz.

Yet Griffin begs to differ.

"Roy's blessed with great ability, but I can't see him winning," he said. "Ruiz is rough and he kind of likes to wrestle his opponent, and I think he'll grab and throw Roy around.

"He'll wear him out."

Griffin can't be accused of taking a self-serving view. While he says "it's my dream to get a third fight with Roy," he stands to be a participant in a light heavyweight title fight should Jones leave the division and surrender his championship(s).

Griffin defeated Jones by ninth-round disqualification in March of '97 but lost their rematch five months later.

Currently training for a Nov. 3 fight in California, he is sparring with Byrd -- who is in line for a proposed Dec. 14 title fight with Evander Holyfield -- and he has come to realize on a firsthand basis the pitfalls of a smaller man challenging a bigger one.

"He'll lose to Ruiz and come back down (to light heavyweight)," is Griffin's prediction as it pertains to Jones.

Noted oddsmaker Herb Lambeck doesn't quite agree and calls Ruiz vs. Jones a "pick 'em."

But for all those equally indecisive, including Jones himself, consider Griffin's opinion. He's certain the big man wins.