JONES, RUIZ SHOWDOWN HAS MYSTERIOUS RING.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Assistant Sports Editor 

LAS VEGAS - Light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr. is trying to mollify his critics and make history by challenging for a heavyweight title. John Ruiz, desperately seeking a high-profile opponent, found one in perhaps the most gifted boxer in a generation but a pipsqueak compared to him.

How that plays out in the ring when they meet tonight at Thomas & Mack Center is anyone's guess, which is why this fight is as intriguing as any in years.

``For the first time in a long time I just have no idea who's going to win this fight,'' said trainer Emanuel Steward, who is not affiliated with either fighter.

The fighters took radically different roads to Las Vegas.

Many thought Jones (47-1, with 38 knockouts) should've won a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics, but he lost a controversial decision in the final and settled for silver. However, many believe he's second to no one as a professional: He has beaten everyone placed in front of him except in his first meeting with Montell Griffin in 1997, when he was disqualified for hitting a beaten Griffin while he was down.

As a result, some say he's the best fighter in the world pound for pound and one of the best ever. Others aren't so sure.

Jones has been criticized for avoiding significant challenges, including bouts with Dariusz Michelczewski and Bernard Hopkins, in part because he's leery to place himself in danger and is guaranteed good paydays regardless of the opponent.

Hence Jones' decision to fight Ruiz, who outweighed him by 33 pounds (226 to 193) at the weigh-in Thursday - and Jones was wearing a heavy sweat suit.

``That issue is being addressed by me fighting a heavyweight,'' Jones said. ``... They say you don't want to fight anybody. I say, `OK, fine. We'll fight the heavyweight champion.' To me, that satisfied everybody.''

Ruiz, who holds the WBA heavyweight belt, has satisfied almost no one.

The Boston-area fighter climbed to the top the hard way, coming back from a 19-second knockout to David Tua in 1996 to win one of three versions of the title when he outpointed Evander Holyfield in the second installment of their brutal trilogy.

Still, Lennox Lewis is considered the true heavyweight champion, and Ruiz is dismissed by some as a crude, even dirty fighter and one of the worst heavyweight titleholders in memory.

On top of that, Ruiz has had difficulty luring big-money opponents - specifically, Lewis and Mike Tyson - into the ring because of his awkward, hard-to-beat style and low profile.

Ruiz (38-4-1, 27 KOs) has been so frustrated he said this week he's considering retirement.

``Here I'm trying to fight the best heavyweights in the world and I have to fight a light heavyweight. It's discouraging,'' Ruiz said.

Some experts believe Ruiz also will be discouraged once the opening bell rings tonight.

They point to Jones' unrivaled speed for a man his size and Ruiz's ordinary skills and say the heavyweight champ is about to lose his title. In other words, in a twist on a common expression, a great little man beats a mediocre big man.

That theory conflicts with history. Only one light heavyweight - Michael Spinks - has successfully challenged for a heavyweight title, while Hall of Famers such as Billy Conn, Archie Moore and Bob Foster failed.

However, several observers have pointed out, Conn, Moore and Foster lost to heavyweights far superior to Ruiz.

``They lost to fighters like Joe Louis (Conn), Rocky Marciano (Moore), Joe Frazier (Foster). We're talking about John Ruiz here,'' boxing historian Bert Sugar said.

Still, Jones, 34, admitted Ruiz could hurt him if he hits just right but said he doesn't plan to absorb clean, potentially damaging shots because ``I have the best defensive skills on the market right now.''

He also insists he won't run for 12 rounds, as many expect him to do. In fact, he hinted he might not be satisfied unless he does what would seem extremely unlikely given the weight disparity: stop Ruiz inside the scheduled 12 rounds.

``If I get a 12-round decision, that's not spectacular,'' he said. ``But if I knock him out ...''

The opposite would seem to be more likely, many say.

Ruiz isn't the most skillful boxer but he's tough and strong, much stronger than Jones. Those who believe Jones is overmatched say he might prove to be elusive early in the fight but will be worn down by Ruiz's rough tactics and weight advantage.

Then, inevitably, Ruiz will catch Jones with a heavyweight punch like the one that knocked down Holyfield, and it will be the beginning of the end for the smaller man.

Ruiz, 31, said he doesn't expect any surprises in terms of tactics.

As he envisions it, Jones will move and Ruiz will chase him. The question is whether the champ will catch the challenger and what will happen if he does. That's the moment so many boxing fans and observers have wondered about since the fight was made.

AT A GLANCE

Who: John Ruiz vs. Roy Jones Jr. for Ruiz's WBA heavyweight title.

When: Tonight.

Where: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.

TV: Pay-per-view, telecast scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

RUIZ vs. JONES

Who: John Ruiz (38-4-1, 27 KOs) defends his WBA heavyweight title against Roy Jones Jr. (47-1, 38 KOs). Lennox Lewis is recognized as the true heavyweight champion.

When: Tonight, about 8.

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas.

Also at stake: Jones tries to become the second light heavyweight to win a heavyweight title.

TV: Pay per view, first fight 6 p.m. Organizers are hoping for 400,000 to 500,000 buys.

Key stats: Ruiz weighed in at 226, Jones 193 (wearing a sweat suit); Ruiz has a reach advantage of 77 1/2 inches to 70 inches.

Purses: Jones is guaranteed $10 million plus a percentage of profits; Ruiz is guaranteed nothing but will receive a percentage of profits. Ruiz will not go unpaid even if pay-per-view buys are low because of the site fee, foreign television rights and other revenue already in place.

Also fighting: Winky Wright defends his IBF junior middleweight title against No. 1 contender J.C. Candelo; Fres Oquendo faces Maurice Harris in a 12-round heavyweight bout; and 6-foot-6 former basketball star Vonda Ward faces Marta Salazar in a six-round women's bout.

CAPTION(S):

2 boxes

Box:

(1) AT A GLANCE (see text)

(2) RUIZ vs. JONES (see text)