Any questions for John Ruiz? I'll be talking to him in a few hours.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

Also ask him why he thinks Jones decided to fight him rather than other Heavyweight Champions of the time.

Ask him will he be at Chagaev-Valuev II to challenge the winner.

He said to this question that in the first round he attempted to rough him up a bit but then was pulled apart by the ref. He said due to problems outside the ring and just his general state of mind that it was the first time he actually gave up on himself. He really let himself down and felt horrible after the fight. He said he was defeated in that first round mentally. He didn't quit, though, and went all 12. He said it was that first round and personal stuff that mentally broke him.

[RozzySean]

Also ask him why he thinks Jones decided to fight him rather than other Heavyweight Champions of the time.

Ask him will he be at Chagaev-Valuev II to challenge the winner.

He said to this question that in the first round he attempted to rough him up a bit but then was pulled apart by the ref. He said due to problems outside the ring and just his general state of mind that it was the first time he actually gave up on himself. He really let himself down and felt horrible after the fight. He said he was defeated in that first round mentally. He didn't quit, though, and went all 12. He said it was that first round and personal stuff that mentally broke him.

Wow. That's interesting to hear. I still root for Ruiz, even though he's boring. He's local and he's a likable guy. I don't blame people for giving him a hard time, though. I've met one of his former assistants, Bobby Covino. He used to train a guy at World's in Somerville during the period that Somerville Gym was closed. I had changed jobs and had to leave my old boxing gym, so I joined Worlds because they have the boxing room in back. Bobby would help me out with my technique from time to time and have me throw punches at his guy sometimes. Really nice fella. All he told me about John was "Johnny is a tough kid, tough kid."