Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones Jr are two of the most iconic boxers of the past 30 years.
Holyfield was undisputed at both cruiserweight and heavyweight in his career, defeating fellow greats like Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Larry Holmes and Riddick Bowe along the way.
Jones Jr had just as memorable a career, claiming world honours at middleweight, super-middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight, beating fighters such as Bernard Hopkins, James Toney Antonio Tarver and Felix Trinidad.
One man that both boxing greats took on during their respective careers was former world heavyweight champion John Ruiz, who held the WBA strap on two occasions between 2001 and 2005.
He fought Holyfield on three occasions, first losing by unanimous decision in August 2000, before then gaining revenge and beating ‘The Real Deal’ on points seven months later to win that WBA belt. Their final fight took place in December 2001, ending in a split decision draw.
He would lose that title just over a year later though, as Jones Jr stepped up to heavyweight and dethroned Ruiz by unanimous decision to become the next champion.
Having taken on both Holyfield and Jones Jr, Ruiz has revealed to Ring Magazine who the best fighter he ever faced was, and he sided with ‘The Real Deal.’
“Holyfield. He had the big name and always went to war. He brought everything but the kitchen sink into the ring to use. He knew how to win and did everything to win.”
It seems that Holyfield agrees with that assessment, as he recently claimed that he believes he is the greatest of all time.
