Saturday, January 11, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

COLUMN: Royce Feour

Small heavyweight Byrd doesn't like Jones' chances against Ruiz

Chris Byrd, who won the vacant IBF heavyweight championship last month with a unanimous decision over Evander Holyfield, knows what it's like to be a small heavyweight.

Byrd, who lives in Las Vegas, weighed 215 pounds in his decisive victory over Holyfield in a day when many heavyweights weigh 240 to 250 pounds.

As a small heavyweight, Byrd says Roy Jones Jr., the light heavyweight champion who is moving two divisions to challenge WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz on March 1 at the Thomas & Mack Center, will find the task more difficult than he thinks.

"Roy will find out these guys hit real hard," Byrd said.

Byrd has a vested interest in the Ruiz-Jones fight because promoter Don King would like to match Byrd with the winner. Byrd wants the fight, but Jones has agreed only to the Ruiz fight as a heavyweight.

Byrd (36-2) said Ruiz will be too big and strong for Jones. Byrd said Jones might not want to admit it, even after the fight, but that he will be surprised at how hard heavyweights punch.

"It is unbelievable power," Byrd said.

Byrd said it is difficult enough for him as a heavyweight, after having fought as a middleweight in the Olympic Games in 1992 before turning professional in 1993.

"At least I am a heavyweight," Byrd said. "I am 215 pounds. I have fought over 30 heavyweight fights. It is difficult fighting big guys. I am used to that. I know what to expect."

Byrd, who weighed 200 pounds for his fourth pro fight, is an elusive, awkward fighter who makes most big heavyweights look bad. Byrd is an excellent boxer, has outstanding defensive skills and is a southpaw, which makes him even more difficult to fight. His only losses were to Ike Ibeabuchi in 1999 and Wladimir Klitschko in 2000.

Jones will surrender 30 to 40 pounds to Ruiz, who weighed 232 and 233 pounds for his last two fights, against Holyfield and Kirk Johnson.

"John becomes a huge puncher when he fights Roy," Byrd said.

Ruiz did say he wants to weigh 225 pounds for the fight because of Jones' speed. Jones said he wants to weigh 192 pounds, and he has said he could go down to super middleweight (168 pounds) if he wanted to.

Byrd praised Jones' undeniable ability.

"I am a skill guy," Byrd said. "(Jones) has skills pound-for-pound unmatched. (Ruiz) would get blown out of the water on skills alone."

The key, Byrd said, would be if Ruiz can cut off the ring.

Byrd said it would be difficult for Jones to keep Ruiz at bay with his jab.

"You can't move all day," Byrd said.

Jones remained a 9-5 favorite Friday at Caesars Palace.

Royce Feour's boxing column is published Saturday. He can be reached by phone at 383-0354, fax at 383-4676 or e-mail at rfeour@reviewjournal.com.