COMEBACK ALERT: RAZOR RUDDOCK, AGE 48

The last time Donovan "Razor" Ruddock fought was in 2001. His knockout of Michael Dokes and two wars with Mike Tyson are still enthusiastically remembered more than twenty years down the road. Many wrote him off after a devastating KO loss to Lennox Lewis in 1992 and a 1995 loss to Tommy Morrison, but few remember that from 1998-2001, Ruddock won ten straight and then stopped fighting. Now, Ruddock (38-5-1) is coming back with the reasonable goal of reclaiming the Canadian heavyweight crown he never lost in the ring. He also wants a world title shot, a much tougher quest for a 48-year old. Ruddock says he weighs just 211 now, which indicates at least good cardiovascular shape. The weight loss' effect on his once-feared punching power remains to be seen. By way of reference, he fought Tyson at 228 and 238 pounds in their two hugely entertaining fights, one of which was stopped prematurely in Tyson's favor, and the other which Tyson won by unanimous decision. "I've never been in this shape in my life," Ruddock said in a press release. "I always got by on my ability, and trained as hard as I knew how back in the day. But now I know so much more. Not just about boxing, but myself as well." Ruddock is hoping that a busy summer - consisting of at least three fights – will culminate in a clash with reigning Canadian heavyweight champion Neven Pajkic. This Saturday night at Mississauga's Hershey's Centre in Ontario Canada, Ruddock will make a personal appearance, although the date and opponent of his comeback bout has not yet been announced.  --Scott Shaffer