Razor Ruddock vs Tommy Morrison

[Addie]

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Underrated fight.

Both fighters get hurt, but early on in that clip you will see Tommy Morrison land a dynamite left hook flush. Ruddock hits the floor like he has been shot in the face with a shot gun, but some how he gets up.

Reminds of when Shavers hit Holmes.

[mr. magoo]

I though the stoppage was a bit premature myself. Ruddock's best days were pretty far behind him by this point. I would have picked a 1990-1991 Ruddock to spark Morrison.

[fists of fury]

Very good heavyweight fight between two big punchers. That left hook Morrison landed was something devastating and completely turned the tide of the fight.

It's funny, but I think had Morrison not gotten to Ruddock at the end like he did, he would have lost. Ruddock was in trouble but hanging on, and Morrison looked to have very little left.

Chances are in the next round, Morrison would have come out completely gassed.

Ruddock was often his own worst enemy. He fought too much like a gunslinger; firing from the hip. Had he used his brains more, he could have accomplished more in his career.

[Rock0052]

Very good heavyweight fight between to big punchers. That left hook Morrison landed was something devastating and completely turned the tide of the fight.

It's funny, but I think had Morrison not gotten to Ruddock at the end like he did, he would have lost. Ruddock was in trouble but hanging on, and Morrison looked to have very little left.

Chances are in the next round, Morrison would have come out completely gassed.

Ruddock was often his own worst enemy. He fought too much like a gunslinger; firing from the hip. Had he used his brains more, he could have accomplished more in his career.

The way that fight was going, it wouldn't have surprised me a bit to see Razor come back and get the W. That was back and forth action in every sense of the word.

I strongly agree with the part in bold and I also think Morrison fits that description, as well. Unfortunately, but understandably, it's a tough feat to not fall in love with your firepower the way those guys did. I've seen guys who were shot not drop as fast as some of the fighters who happened to be on the wrong end of their KO's.

[AnthonyJ74]

I though the stoppage was a bit premature myself. Ruddock's best days were pretty far behind him by this point. I would have picked a 1990-1991 Ruddock to spark Morrison.

Agreed. Ruddock was way past his best by the time of this fight, and he had been pretty inactive leading up to this fight. Morrion and his team picked Ruddock at the right time. The Ruddock of the Tyson fights would have bludgeoned Morrison.

[jont]

every time i watch the clip of this fight ..especially when i can rewind it...it seems like a very premature stoppage.... Ruddick immeidately complained and all through the barrage from Morrison...Ruddock seems clear headed but tired...the punches that snapped his head back at the end had very little leverage on them and Ruddock seemed to take them ok even with the way that his head snaps back...a shame ...one of the most possible exciting rounds could have occured in the next round if the fight had not been stopped....

[CottoDaBodykill]

I though the stoppage was a bit premature myself. Ruddock's best days were pretty far behind him by this point. I would have picked a 1990-1991 Ruddock to spark Morrison.we can also say tommy had seen better days himself

[mr. magoo]

we can also say tommy had seen better days himself


I don't know. He was still in his late 20's and had noticeably improved since his devastating loss to Mercer 4 years earlier. Granted, the guy never amounted to an elite force, but he was at least beating better men than the Tillis's, crabtree's, Acey's and other bums that he had padded his record with in years past.. Ruddock was further past his best than Morrison was to say the least, yet he still had a chance at winning that fight despite.

[mr. magoo]

Agreed. Ruddock was way past his best by the time of this fight, and he had been pretty inactive leading up to this fight. Morrion and his team picked Ruddock at the right time. The Ruddock of the Tyson fights would have bludgeoned Morrison.

Indeed,

Ruddock had only fought one time within a near three year period since losing badly to Lennox Lewis, and that one fight was an unimpressive win against a pure journeyman. The accuracy of his left hook was clearly off, his ability to take a big shot was still there but had probably diminished some, as had some of his power. As chinny as Morrison was, had Ruddock nailed him with the same shot that put Dokes to sleep in 1990, the fight would have been over with pretty quick..

[anut]

stopped to soon..........ruddock inactive........

[lefthook31]

On paper this fight looked to be a blowout. Morrison got pretty far for having one good punch, no stamina and a horrible chin. Just goes to show you how shot Ruddock really was at the time.

[sitiyzal]

It's funny, but I think had Morrison not gotten to Ruddock at the end like he did, he would have lost. Ruddock was in trouble but hanging on, and Morrison looked to have very little left.

Chances are in the next round, Morrison would have come out completely gassed.


That's exactly what Ruddock said. Something like "he was dead tired, had we come out for the next round, he's dead". Just a bad stoppage. Ruddock complained bitterly.

[lefthook31]

That's exactly what Ruddock said. Something like "he was dead tired, had we come out for the next round, he's dead". Just a bad stoppage. Ruddock complained bitterly.
Yeah and he complained when he was reeling against the ropes in the Tyson fight, but he was about to get his head knocked off if that fight would have continued. These fighters know the rules, you cant stay motionless against the ropes after being badly hurt, the ref will stop the fight. Its a bad excuse to complain after, there is no breaks in boxing, you gotta show you still have your wits together by at least attempting to fire back. This fight is a perfect example, Morrison was hurt and Ruddock had him going and Morrison threw the haymaker and it landed.

[fists of fury]

Morrison got pretty far for having one good punch, no stamina and a horrible chin. Just goes to show you how shot Ruddock really was at the time.

He did have skills though. That hook of his was an unbelieveable punch. He was actually quite well-schooled as a fighter. In his fight with Mercer, he set Ray up time and again with beautiful combinations; world-class combinations.

Unfotunately as you said, he had some critical weaknesses that usually failed him at the top level.

[lefthook31]

He did have skills though. That hook of his was an unbelieveable punch. He was actually quite well-schooled as a fighter. In his fight with Mercer, he set Ray up time and again with beautiful combinations; world-class combinations.

Unfotunately as you said, he had some critical weaknesses that usually failed him at the top level.
The Mercer KO was one of the ugliest KO's Ive ever seen with Gamache Gatti taking first prize. I thought Tommy was dead.

[fists of fury]

Yeah and he complained when he was reeling against the ropes in the Tyson fight, but he was about to get his head knocked off if that fight would have continued. These fighters know the rules, you cant stay motionless against the ropes after being badly hurt, the ref will stop the fight.

To me that was a horribly premature stoppage. Ruddock was reeling sure, but he had just won the previous round with some dynamite punching, and Steele stopped the fight without even looking in Ruddock's direction.

He denied Ruddock the opportunity to defend himself, which was criminal.

[lefthook31]

To me that was a horribly premature stoppage. Ruddock was reeling sure, but he had just won the previous round with some dynamite punching, and Steele stopped the fight without even looking in Ruddock's direction.

He denied Ruddock the opportunity to defend himself, which was criminal.
I thought that originally but watched it again, and I think it was clear Ruddock was about to be beheaded.

[fists of fury]

Probably, but I still think it was premature. Guess we're not going to convince each other, eh?

[lefthook31]

Probably, but I still think it was premature. Guess we're not going to convince each other, eh?
Tyson was an awesome finisher, Ruddock was hurt with one arm behind the rope, so he was open. Im trying to find the link on youtube so we can watch it again, but I cant get on youtube for some reason.

[Seamus]

Ron Lipton knows a lot about boxing. I remember reading where he said Ruddock was way out of it, after being completely unconscious before hitting the floor. He also had one of the best lines, one I still remember... "Tommy hits harder than a winter on welfare."

Lipton probably knows more about the mechanics than anyone on this forum. He was a few feet from the action. If he chose to stop it, it should have been stopped.

[Danny]

I though the stoppage was a bit premature myself. Ruddock's best days were pretty far behind him by this point. I would have picked a 1990-1991 Ruddock to spark Morrison.

Put the Ruddock who nearly killed Michael Dokes with a left hook in with any version of Morrison & Ruddock would do the business imo!

[mr. magoo]

To me that was a horribly premature stoppage. Ruddock was reeling sure, but he had just won the previous round with some dynamite punching, and Steele stopped the fight without even looking in Ruddock's direction.

He denied Ruddock the opportunity to defend himself, which was criminal.


Steele stopped MANY fights prematurely.

[lefthook31]

It ulitmately came down to his horrendous stoppage of the Taylor Chavez fight, with two seconds left. After that if Steele would have stopped a fight with the guy on the ground unconscious it would have been too soon.

[fists of fury]

The funny thing is, Steele was far more criticized in the press for the Ruddock stoppage than for the Taylor stoppage.

I remember a Boxing Illustrated edition with the title 'Did Richard Steele my fight with Tyson?' with a picture of Ruddock on the cover.
The article was quite scathing of Steele, who in an interview before the bout, insisted it was a 10 round fight, when it was actually a 12 rounder.
Some felt that Steele was jet lagged from refereeing a fight just a few days before, on the other side of the country.

I'm not trying to convince anyone, but it's quite an interesting article if anyone gets around to reading it.

Anyway, poor old Steele had to live for years afterwards with fight fans shouting "stop the fight Richard!"

[fists of fury]

"Tommy hits harder than a winter on welfare."



:lol: That's a good line.

[mr. magoo]

The funny thing is, Steele was far more criticized in the press for the Ruddock stoppage than for the Taylor stoppage.

I remember a Boxing Illustrated edition with the title 'Did Richard Steele my fight with Tyson?' with a picture of Ruddock on the cover.
The article was quite scathing of Steele, who in an interview before the bout, insisted it was a 10 round fight, when it was actually a 12 rounder.
Some felt that Steele was jet lagged from refereeing a fight just a few days before, on the other side of the country.

I'm not trying to convince anyone, but it's quite an interesting article if anyone gets around to reading it.

Anyway, poor old Steele had to live for years afterwards with fight fans shouting "stop the fight Richard!"

I think these things tend to have a " cumulative " factor.. The fact that Richard Steele had already stopped a big super fight once, had extreme baring on the second occasion and especially considering that it was a highly hyped HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATION MATCH...... The whole world had its eyes fixed on the upper tier heavyweights, and was yearning for the resolution of the ongoing drama... The fact that a referee who had previously stopped a big fight, was now stopping an even BIGGER match, was more than the public could handle.......

[HomicideHenry]

Had Morrison fought Ruddock earlier, Razor would have kayoed him. Ruddock had been inactive for quite some time when he took on Morrison, and it went back and forth like life and death. While I do believe Morrison to be under-rated in some sense, he wasnt dealing with the man who took on Tyson or Dokes, he took on an out of shape, rusty Ruddock.

[mr. magoo]

Anyway, poor old Steele had to live for years afterwards with fight fans shouting "stop the fight Richard!"


I also would like to comment on this...

I have always felt that Richard Steele was a great referee. He was well fixed on the action, had a good eye for fouling tactics, and above all else, was concerned for the well being of young fighters.

I had always felt ( and still do ), that his stoppage of Taylor vs Chavez was premature.. Let's face it, Meldrick was winning the fight convincingly and there was only seconds left on the clock... i saw the fight live at only 15 years of age. As time past however, I took to heart the words that he mentioned in the post fight interview which were " I am not the time keeper. " In the years that past, I have seen many replays of that fight, as well as read many articles that have regurgitated the events of that evening.. This past year, I watch an episode of legendary nights on HBO. To this day, Richard Steele stands by his decision and still says " no one in the crowd could see the horrible punishment that young man ( Taylor ) was taking. " As I watched the close-ups, I saw Taylor slipping to the canvas at one point. I saw a horribly bloodied face. I saw the blank look in his eyes after he barely rose to his feet, when Steele had asked him if he was able to continue... I remember hearing the medical reports of Taylor being rushed to the hospital for dehydration and severe internal bleeding. I remember hearing about how he was urinating blood for days after the fight......Most of all, I remember how Taylor had severely declined after that evening, and how he was never the same fighter again... Many have blamed his decline on Steele's decision to " deprive " him of a career defining win... I think it was something else. Although, he definately should have won that match, the beating that he took would have arguably ruined even the very best of great champions.......

[kenmore]

I though the stoppage was a bit premature myself. Ruddock's best days were pretty far behind him by this point. I would have picked a 1990-1991 Ruddock to spark Morrison.

I always believed that myself, until I heard referee Ron Lipton say that he saw one of Ruddock's pupils grossly dilated, while the other eye looked normal. That's evidence of some scary injury. I think Lipton made the right choice.

[kenmore]

(posted deleted)

[Seamus]

Good stoppage. I'm telling you, none of you guys can tell me a thing more about boxing than Lipton.

Had they fought earlier it would have probably been the same chances of either KO'ing either. Because, though Ruddock was a bit past his prime, so was Tommy. He had partied way too hard and been beaten down too many times. Both fellows had one-punch power, and oddly enough, both had more heart than sense. It would always be a matter of who convinced the ref first to stop the carnage.

[lefthook31]

Here it is, some funny commentary from Tyson. Early stoppage only prevented Tyson from killing Ruddock, he was in trouble.

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[fists of fury]

I also would like to comment on this...

I have always felt that Richard Steele was a great referee. He was well fixed on the action, had a good eye for fouling tactics, and above all else, was concerned for the well being of young fighters.

I had always felt ( and still do ), that his stoppage of Taylor vs Chavez was premature.. Let's face it, Meldrick was winning the fight convincingly and there was only seconds left on the clock... i saw the fight live at only 15 years of age. As time past however, I took to heart the words that he mentioned in the post fight interview which were " I am not the time keeper. " In the years that past, I have seen many replays of that fight, as well as read many articles that have regurgitated the events of that evening.. This past year, I watch an episode of legendary nights on HBO. To this day, Richard Steele stands by his decision and still says " no one in the crowd could see the horrible punishment that young man ( Taylor ) was taking. " As I watched the close-ups, I saw Taylor slipping to the canvas at one point. I saw a horribly bloodied face. I saw the blank look in his eyes after he barely rose to his feet, when Steele had asked him if he was able to continue... I remember hearing the medical reports of Taylor being rushed to the hospital for dehydration and severe internal bleeding. I remember hearing about how he was urinating blood for days after the fight......Most of all, I remember how Taylor had severely declined after that evening, and how he was never the same fighter again... Many have blamed his decline on Steele's decision to " deprive " him of a career defining win... I think it was something else. Although, he definately should have won that match, the beating that he took would have arguably ruined even the very best of great champions.......

Richard Steele did the right thing in Chavez - Taylor. As you said, he is not the timekeeper. His job is to enforce the rules and to protect the fighters.
He could not know there were only two seconds left, as he was focused on Meldrick.
I also agree Magoo that Taylor's decline had more to do with the beating he took than anything else.

But the stoppage nonetheless will always be seen as incorrect by a large portion of fight fans. I can see that side of it too, although I'd disagree with it.

[DamonD]

With the Morrison-Ruddock stoppage too, it was unfortunately only a week or two after a death in the ring due to a late stoppage. I'm sorry I can't remember who the deceased fighter was but RIP anyway.

So I think that might've affected it too. Razor's head flying back from that last left would make most refs nervous too, even if I can see the argument that he might've been able to make it to the break.

Morrison has said himself that he would've had to take the next round off to get his gas back, he put a lot into trying to finish Ruddock in that 6th.

Beautiful left hook as always from Tommy. Anyone ever seen the ones he planted Art Tucker with?

[fists of fury]

Let me ask a question : who had the better left hand, Morrison or Ruddock?

[lefthook31]

Let me ask a question : who had the better left hand, Morrison or Ruddock?
Thats a good question. I would still go with Morrison, because he basically had nothing else but a lefthook. At least Ruddock could mix in a hook with his uppercut, Morrison could only pitty pat with the rest of his punches, including his jab, but his lefthook was deadly.

[Muchmoore]

Let me ask a question : who had the better left hand, Morrison or Ruddock?

Tough question.

Both of them relied almost completely on their left. Ruddocks smash was lethal but he uses it too much, he had some decent skills when he wanted to use it. Morrisons left hook is also one of the most powerful punches thrown in history, and he had nothing else. Morrisons left was more crucial to his success, but I don't know if it was more effective than the smash that Ruddock landed on Dokes.

I can't decide between the two, maybe after reading another post about this I could make a decision :lol:

[Rock0052]

Let me ask a question : who had the better left hand, Morrison or Ruddock?

I would lean slightly towards Morrison, but I can't say I'd ever want to find out by taking a shot from either of them. Imagine if either one developed a 2nd or 3rd punch to the same level of proficiency they did for the smash and the left hook. :!: