Ruiz’s camp talking trash

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.

His purse to be determined to a large part by the number of pay-per-view buys his fight with Roy Jones Jr. generates, World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John Ruiz has gone out of his way to make himself available in the days and weeks leading up to his Saturday title defense at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Jones, however, has not.

"That's what Roy does best," Ruiz said Monday, referring to Jones' real or imagined ability to figuratively throw a wrench into the works. "I don't know how to explain his attitude.

"It really doesn't worry me. As long as he's in the ring (Saturday) it doesn't matter if I make any money at all."

Jones gets $10 million just for showing up. Ruiz, who expects to make $5 million or so, could get only half of that if the pay-per-view audience lags.

"We're (upset)," said Norman Stone, who manages Ruiz. "It's not right. (Jones) should be out there selling the fight.

"He got a guarantee but I'll give you a guarantee: He won't last 12 (rounds)."

Feeling bold after seeing his man work out for an hour at the pavilion at Caesars Palace, Stone was willing to add to his anti-Jones commentary until a publicist signalled for him to "zip it up." He did, but not before saying "Just make sure they have an ambulance at ringside to carry (Jones) out."

Ruiz vs. Jones is heating up.

"A champion should act like a champion," Ruiz said, as if Jones -- the former undisputed light heavyweight champion -- is not fulfilling his duties. "I think he's worried."

Yet Ruiz has his curiosities as well. His open workout was punctuated not only by his team members' staged applause, but by a crowing rubber chicken that Stone and trainer Gabe LaMarca continually squeeze and step on to create an irritating noise.

The chicken reference and rooster crowing are meant to demean Jones, who raises birds for cockfighting. More subtly, the Ruiz camp is also goading Jones into slugging it out, rather than stay evasive as they fear and somewhat suspect he will do.

"Jones is here," Stone called out more than once as he pummeled the phony bird.

These histrionics aside, Ruiz looks svelte and says his Florida training camp accomplished its mission, as he lost some 16 pounds to get down to a sleek 222.

"I'm 10 pounds lighter than I ever fought," he said. "I feel good."

He put no stock into a comment earlier in the day by legendary light heavyweight champion Bob Foster, who said during a conference call that he thought it was a mistake for Ruiz to lose weight just because he's fighting a smaller man.

"How much more weight do I need?" Ruiz said, confident he can still push the 190-pound Jones around.

Jones, 47-1, remains a minus 180 betting favorite, while Ruiz, 38-4-1, is a plus 150.