Donovan Ruddock boxer
- bouts
- 47
- won
- 40
- lost
- 6
- draw
- 1
- Status
- inactive
- Division
- heavyweight
- Debut
- 1982-03-20
- Height
- 6′ 3″/191cm
- Reach
- 82″/208cm
- Age
- -
- Born
- 1963-12-21
- Death
- -
- Nationality
- Canada
Donovan "Razor" Ruddock (born December 21, 1963) is a Jamaican-born Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 1982 to 2001, and in 2015. He is known for his two fights against Mike Tyson in 1991, and a fight against Lennox Lewis in 1992. Ruddock was also known for his exceptional heavy punching power: one of the best examples of his left hand power was his knockout of former WBA heavyweight champion Michael Dokes in 1990. His favoured weapon at the ring proved to be a highly versatile half-hook, half-uppercut left-handed punch he called "The Smash," which accounted for the majority of his knockout wins, and also happened to be his major downside during his entire career, as he didn't throw a single right hand during most of knockout flurries, being a left-handed puncher fighting out of the orthodox stance.Ruddock was born in St. Catherine, Jamaica. At age 11, he left Jamaica with his family and moved to Toronto, settling in the city's Weston neighbourhood. Ruddock attended Emery Collegiate Institute and Westview Centennial Secondary School, when he was a teenager.As an amateur boxer, Ruddock had a win over Lennox Lewis in March 1980 in Toronto at the Ontario Junior Boxing Championship, winning via a split decision (3:2) in the 75 kg weight class (165 lbs). He turned pro in 1982, but his career started slowly, having only 11 fights between 1982 and 1985. He won eight of his first nine fights, but drew his fifth. More controversy would follow in April 1985 when he lost to journeyman David Jaco, who would be KO'd by a young Mike Tyson the next year. After eight rounds Ruddock's corner threw in the towel when he complained of breathing problems. Jaco was awarded a TKO victory. It was discovered Ruddock had a rare respiratory illness and doctors told him his career would be over.After taking 10 months off after rehabilitation Ruddock made a full recovery to the doctors' surprise and resumed his boxing career winning 9 straight fights, 8 of them by KO also picking up an impressive decision win over former WBA heavyweight title-holder Mike Weaver before winning the Canadian heavyweight championship by a first-round knockout against Ken Lakusta in 1988.In 1989, after two more wins by KO, a fight with another former WBA heavyweight title-holder was made, against the hard-hitting James "Bonecrusher" Smith. In the round 2, Ruddock was floored heavily by Smith but showed his heart by getting up, coming back in the round, and impressively knocking out Smith in round 7.A title bout was made with undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, scheduled for November 1989 in Edmonton, Alberta. Tyson, claiming illness, cancelled and opted instead to fight James "Buster" Douglas in Tokyo. Tyson would go on to lose in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
Date | Opponent | Last Opponents' Results | Place | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015-09-11 | Dillon Carman | WWLWWW | Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto | LOST KO |
2015-05-22 | Eric Barrak | WWWLWL | Colisee Isabelle Brasseur, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | WIN Majority decision |
2015-03-28 | Raymond Olubowale | WLLWWL | Hershey Centre, Mississauga | WIN Technical knockout |
2001-10-12 | Egerton Marcus | LDLLWW | Civic Center, Niagara Falls | WIN Technical knockout |
2001-04-27 | Harold Sconiers | LDDWLL | Civic Center, Niagara Falls | WIN Split-decision |
1999-10-08 | Jose Ribalta | WWLLLL | Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona | WIN Technical knockout |
1999-07-20 | Mike Sedillo | LLLLLW | Casino Windsor, Windsor | WIN Technical knockout |
1999-05-27 | Derek Amos | LLLLLW | Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester | WIN Technical knockout |
1999-02-19 | Anthony Willis | LWLLLW | Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona | WIN Technical knockout |
1999-01-21 | Tony LaRosa | WWWWWW | Grand Casino Avoyelles, Marksville | WIN Technical knockout |
1998-08-11 | Rodolfo Marin | WWWLLW | Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami | WIN Technical knockout |
1998-06-26 | Tony Bradham | WWLLLL | DePaul Alumni Hall, Chicago | WIN KO |
1998-04-16 | Brian Yates | LLLLLL | Broomsage Ranch, North Vernon | WIN Technical knockout |
1995-06-10 | Tommy Morrison | WWDWWW | Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City | LOST Technical knockout |
1994-01-29 | Anthony Wade | WWWWWW | MGM Grand, Las Vegas | WIN Unanimous decision |
1992-10-31 | Lennox Lewis | WWWWWW | Earls Court Exhibition Hall, Kensington | LOST Technical knockout |
1992-06-26 | Phil Jackson | WWWWWW | Cleveland State Convocation Centre, Cleveland | WIN KO |
1992-02-15 | Greg Page | WWLWWW | Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas | WIN Corner retirement |
1991-06-28 | Mike Tyson | WWLWWW | Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas | LOST Unanimous decision |
1991-03-18 | Mike Tyson | WWWLWW | Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas | LOST Technical knockout |
1990-12-08 | Mike Rouse | LWLLLW | Convention Center, Atlantic City | WIN KO |
1990-08-18 | Kimmuel Odum | WWWWL | Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City | WIN KO |
1990-04-04 | Michael Dokes | WLWWWW | Madison Square Garden, New York | WIN Technical knockout |
1989-07-02 | James Smith | WWWLLD | Cumberland Co. Memorial Arena, Fayetteville | WIN KO |
1988-12-06 | James Broad | WLLLWL | Halifax Metro Centre, Halifax | WIN Technical knockout |
1988-06-27 | Reggie Gross | WLLLLW | Convention Hall, Atlantic City | WIN Technical knockout |
1988-05-28 | Ken Lakusta | LWLLLL | Saskatoon Place Complex, Saskatoon | WIN KO |
1988-04-26 | Larry Alexander | WWWWWL | The Showplace, Camden | WIN KO |
1987-11-24 | Eddie Richardson | LWLLLW | The Forum, Halifax | WIN KO |
1987-08-29 | Juan Quintana | WLLDLL | State Theatre, Easton | WIN Technical knockout |
1987-06-15 | Carlos Hernandez | WDLLWL | Convention Center, Atlantic City | WIN |
1987-05-16 | Robert Evans | LWLLLL | State Theatre, Easton | WIN Technical knockout |
1986-08-23 | Mike Weaver | WWWLWL | Cumberland County Auditorium, Fayetteville | WIN Split-decision |
1986-07-08 | Al Houck | DLLWLW | Halifax Forum, Halifax | WIN Technical knockout |
1986-05-28 | John Westgarth | WLWWLL | Alexandra Pavilion, Muswell Hill | WIN KO |
1986-02-25 | Carlton Jones | LDLLL | St. Lawrence Market, Toronto | WIN KO |
1985-04-30 | David Jaco | WWWLWL | Dartmouth Sportsplex, Dartmouth | LOST Corner retirement |
1984-10-20 | Oscar Holman | WWWLWD | Dartmouth | WIN Unanimous decision |
1984-07-31 | Ricardo Peterson | DWWWL | Dartmouth Sportsplex, Dartmouth | WIN Unanimous decision |
1984-02-28 | Cedric Parsons | WWWLWW | Dartmouth Sportsplex, Dartmouth | WIN Technical knockout |
1983-09-25 | Conroy Nelson | LLLWWW | C.N.E. Coliseum, Toronto | WIN Unanimous decision |
1983-04-26 | Phil Brown | LLLLWW | Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal | DRAW Split-decision |
1983-04-08 | Bill Hollis | LLLWLL | St. Lawrence Market, Toronto | WIN Unanimous decision |
1982-08-13 | Al Williams | LLLL | Welland Arena, Welland | WIN KO |
1982-06-01 | Arthur Hall | W | Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City | WIN Majority decision |
1982-04-24 | Garland Tipton | LLDLLL | Columbus Centre, Toronto | WIN KO |
1982-03-20 | Wes Rowe | WWLLLL | Columbus Centre, Toronto | WIN Technical knockout |