Mike Tyson’s ex-KO victim was brutally beaten in catastrophic comeback in worrying news for legend’s Jake Paul fight
Donovan Ruddock’s comeback fight in 2015 may serve as a warning for Mike Tyson ahead of his meeting with Jake Paul.
Ruddock remarkably jumped back in the ring in a series of professional fights at the age of 51 in 2015 after 14 years out the ring to accepting a series of fights at domestic level.
Like Tyson who will face Paul on November 15, he was way past his heyday in the professional ranks, having retired in 2001, four years before Iron Mike did the same.
His initial return went well beating 45-year-old journeyman Raymond Olubowale and 37-year-old Eric Barrak, before meeting his third match in Dillon Carman for the Canadian heavyweight title.
Carman was just 29 years of age, 22 years Ruddock’s junior, and was the biggest punching of his opponents on the comeback trail.
It immediately became clear that ‘Razor’ had made a huge mistake by returning way past his prime.
The iconic heavyweight found himself on the back foot as soon as proceedings began, finding himself down on the scorecards after two rounds.
As the third round began, concerns were raised as he looked well out of his depth and the breakthrough came for his rival.
Ruddock looked off-balance and physically struggling, which saw him caught by two thunderous right hands in the corner of the ring.
They found the target through a non-existent guard, and Donovan was sent crumpling into the ropes in a first knockdown.
The 51-year-old was on borrowed time and Carman upped the ante on his helpless opponent starting to really let his hands go.
But the final blow was damaging for Ruddock, who was left flat on his back barely moving after another right hand crushed the temple.
Ruddock was unable to rise and it was a sad ending for the heavyweight veteran, who had such a glistening career during his prime.
The powerful hitter had been a tough examination for ‘Iron Mike’ in their two fights, with their first meeting in 1991 stopped in controversial fashion.
As a result the pair rematched in an epic 12-round encounter later that year, where the pair ended with brutal injuries, but Tyson dominated and took the decision on the judges scorecards.
