Donovan 'Razor' Ruddock, the Jamaican-born heavyweight who faced boxing giants Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, has named Greg Page as the most skillful heavyweight he encountered in his career.
Ruddock shared this insight during a feature with Ring Magazine, surprising many by choosing Page over more well-known opponents like Tyson and Lewis.
Before his famous bouts with Tyson, Ruddock had only one defeat on his record and was riding high on a streak of sixteen victories. His first clash with 'Iron Mike' in 1991 ended in controversy. Tyson dropped Ruddock in the third round and got a TKO victory in the seventh, but some fans thought the stoppage came too early.
Later that year, they met again. This time, Ruddock went the full twelve rounds with a broken jaw, losing on all three scorecards. Between the Tyson fights and his bout with Lewis, Ruddock scored stoppage wins over Greg Page and Phil Jackson.
The Lewis fight in 1992 didn't last long. Lewis floored Ruddock heavily with ten seconds left in the first round. In the second, he finished the job quickly, leaving Ruddock face-down on the canvas.
But it's Greg Page who left the biggest impression on 'Razor'. Page, a former WBA Heavyweight World Champion who beat Gerrie Coetzee in 1984, put up a spirited effort against Ruddock in 1992 despite having nine losses at that point. Ruddock eventually stopped him in the eighth round after a tough fight.
Ruddock explained to Ring Magazine why he rates Page so highly:
"He was so crafty because he came from the Muhammad Ali camp. He was very slippery. He had good skills; he was champion of the world. I would have him on the ropes and his hand and footspeed would work in tandem to comfortably dodge a wave of punches and dance away."
Ruddock went on to praise Page's remarkable skills and toughness:
"He would then continue to dance around the ring. Page was a superior fighter with a remarkable uppercut that tagged me several times. It was an all-out war between us from beginning to end. When I landed, he would absorb the blow and just continued to move his head despite the punishment. He just kept bouncing around exhausting my energy as I threw power punches. He had great stamina with a lot of heart. It was remarkable."
Page's career spanned 76 fights with 58 wins. After hanging up his gloves, he became a trainer and was part of Oliver McCall's corner when McCall beat Lennox Lewis. Page passed away in 2009, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most skilled heavyweights of his era.
