BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY
Donovan "Razor" Ruddock was a highly ranked heavyweight contender in the late 1980's and early 1990's. He was known for his powerful left hook/uppercut hybrid, which he called "The Smash." The Ring Magazine named Ruddock the 70th greatest puncher of all-time in 2003.
Ruddock turned professional in 1982. His first loss occurred in his 11th fight, when he was stopped in eight rounds by journeyman David Jaco in 1985. He blamed the loss on an asthma attack.
In 1986, Ruddock outpointed former WBA heavyweight champion Mike Weaver. Three years and eight wins later, he defeated another former WBA champion, knocking out James (Bone crusher) Smith in seven rounds.
Ruddock was scheduled to face Mike Tyson for the World Heavyweight Championship in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on November 18, 1989, but Tyson pulled out of the fight because of an illness. The fight was first postponed and then cancelled. Several months later, Tyson lost the championship in a huge upset to James (Buster) Douglas.
In 1990, Ruddock brutally knocked out former WBA heavyweight champion Michael Dokes in four rounds at Madison Square Garden.
Ruddock and Tyson finally fought in March 1991 in a twelve-round non-title fight. Ruddock was dropped in rounds two and three, but he came back and hurt Tyson in the sixth round with a left hook which perforated his eardrum. In the seventh round, Tyson rocked Ruddock with a combination and referee Richard Steele stopped the fight. It was a controversial call. Many felt the fight was stopped prematurely.
They had a rematch three months later. Ruddock was again floored early in the fight, going down in rounds two and four. He also suffered a broken jaw, but he was able to go the 12-round distance. Tyson won by a unanimous decision. It would be Tyson's last fight for more than four years. The following year, he was convicted of rape and served three years in prison.
In his next fight. Ruddock stopped former WBA heavyweight champion Greg Page in eight rounds. He then knocked out undefeated Phil Jackson in four rounds.
On Halloween night 1992, Ruddock, the #1 WBC contender, fought Lennox Lewis, the #2 WBC contender, in a WBC title eliminator. Lewis knocked Ruddock down with a right late in the first round. Early in the second round, Lewis dropped him again. Ruddock got up but after another knockdown, referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight.
In 1995, in his last notable fight, Ruddock fought former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison. Ruddock dropped Morrison in the first round, but Morrison came back and hurt Ruddock in the second round. Ruddock grabbed the top ring rope to keep from going down and was given an eight-count by referee Ron Lipton. Ruddock hurt Morrison again in the sixth round but was dropped by a Morrison left hook as he moved in for the finish. Ruddock got up, but Morrison was able to finish him.
Ruddock won his next ten fights and then retired in 2001. In 2012, at the age of 48, Ruddock announced that he was planning a comeback.
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