[kenyan_cheena]

O CANADA:
RUDDOCK FLOORS NORTON TWICE,
MOVES INTO 1ST WITH U.D. WIN

Friday 12 July 2002

Concluding what has been a fantastic ten days for Canadian boxing, Donovan Ruddock scored a surprising unanimous decision victory over San Diego's Ken Norton tonight at Reno's Silver Legacy Casino. In doing so Ruddock assumed 1st place in Group Thirteen of the World Championship tournament with only one series of stage one bouts remaining. His victory followed on from wins for Sam Langford over Tom Sharkey last week and George Chuvalo against Ray Mercer this past Wednesday, making him the third Canadian to be sitting on top of their respective tournament group.

It was the type of bout where the scorecards really didn't tell the story. Ruddock was awarded clear-cut verdicts of 59-53, 58-54 and 59-53, largely due to the fact that he was able to knock Norton down twice. Taking away those two vital moments it was, in the opinion of many, a pretty even contest.

Ruddock had famously talked himself into a corner back when the HBF announced their tournament seedings by declaring that he should have been closer to the top ten rather than at #20. He had done little to back up that claim through the first five series of bouts, being held to draws by two lower seeded opponents and just avoiding his first career defeat last month when he was awarded a questionable split decision victory over Iowa's Gerald Griffith.

The superbly fit Norton was not expected to find much trouble from the Canadian and made his way to the ring decked out in the old powder blue and gold of his beloved San Diego Chargers, flanked by fellow USC members James Toney and Sam McVey. Norton had faded late to be held to a draw by Buster Mathis in his last bout but had said in the days leading up to tonight's event that no such thing would happen against Ruddock.

"I've been to hell and back gettin' ready for this," the 13th seed had said. "Ain't no way I'm gonna let this guy beat me."

(to be continued)