JONES-RUIZ BOUT HARD TO PREDICT.

Roy Jones Jr. is taking a significant risk. So is John Ruiz. That's the ingredients of a compelling - and legitimate - fight.

Jones, a light heavyweight and the best fighter in the world, agreed last week to move up two weight classes to meet the bruising WBA heavyweight belt holder March 1 in Las Vegas.

The first thing that might come to mind: Gimmick. Some might dismiss the fight as a novelty, a natural 175-pounder against a mediocre heavyweight who has fought around 240 pounds.

The problem with that logic? Pick a winner. ... Having a hard time? ... Exactly.

Jones-Ruiz is a fascinating fight not just because we want to see what happens when Jones gets hit with a heavyweight punch or whether Ruiz can catch Jones, but also because it's extremely difficult to predict who will win.

Some believe Jones, even at a beefed-up 190 pounds, will be too quick for the relatively slow, clumsy Ruiz. Jones will dance, he'll jab, he'll throw just enough punches to score points and stay on his toes to avoid Ruiz's heavy punches for 12 rounds.

Jones will win a one-sided decision, as this scenario goes, and make Ruiz look like a fool in the process.

Others are convinced Ruiz has to connect at some point, and Jones will be hurt, perhaps seriously. After all, Ruiz was able to hurt Evander Holyfield, who has one of the best chins in boxing history.

Jones has said he expects to come in about 190, and Ruiz, who has a seven-inch reach advantage, plans to trim down to 225 to gain quickness. That's still a 35-pound advantage.

``I realize that I'm the one who stands a chance of getting hurt,'' Jones said.

Ruiz also is taking a chance.

While no one considers Ruiz either the true heavyweight champion or an exceptional fighter, many believe he is underrated. It's never pretty, but he does what it takes to win, which is the object of the game.

Win or lose, this fight probably won't enhance his reputation. He'll have to be satisfied with a payday that could reach $8 million. Jones is guaranteed $10 million but could make twice that if pay-per-view numbers are high.

``I'm taking a big chance here,'' Ruiz said. ``I have everything to lose, and he has everything to gain. If I beat him, people will say that I should have because I'm bigger and stronger. If I lose, people will say I'm nothing because I lost to a light heavyweight.

``I've gotten to a point where I'll always get criticized.''

Jones also knows criticism. He has been vilified for failing to fight worthy opponents throughout his career, in which his only loss came by disqualification.

Now, no matter what one might think of Ruiz, Jones can say he's taking a risk.

``The critics say, `Roy won't fight. Roy won't do this. Roy won't be there.' But then, who is this?'' said Jones, pointing at his chest.

--Not a first: History is not on Jones' side. Only one light heavyweight champion, Michael Spinks, has gone on to win a heavyweight title.

And many great fighters tried. They include Billy Conn, Archie Moore and Bob Foster.

The difference here might turn out to be the opposition. Conn lost twice to Joe Louis, Moore lost to Rocky Marciano and Floyd Patterson and Foster lost to Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.

Of course, Ruiz isn't in their class. At the same time, his mauling, even dirty style could compensate for his relative lack of ability and make Jones' task particularly difficult.

--Holyfield-Byrd: Evander Holyfield will not give up on his goal of regaining the undisputed heavyweight championship. Even at 40.

He faces crafty left-hander Chris Byrd on Saturday in Atlantic City, N.J., for the vacant IBF title, one of three recognized championships, along with the WBC (Lennox Lewis) and WBA (Ruiz).

Holyfield insists this isn't about money or ego. It's about the challenge and his legacy.

``After I beat Tyson the first time, I got more publicity than I had in my whole boxing career. If it was about ego, I would've left then,'' he said. ``I beat him when y'all said I couldn't beat him. And then after the second (ear-biting) fight, I could've said, `Forget this game.' I beat the best, I made a lot of money, $35 million for that incident.

``But I said, no, I want to be undisputed champion of world.''

The first step won't be easy. Byrd is a very difficult opponent, because of quickness, defensive skills and the fact he's left-handed. Heavyweights have been avoiding him for years.

Holyfield, who has seen every style in the book in his long career, figures he'll adjust.

``In general, it takes a little more than hand speed, ... to beat me,'' he said. ``I'm a student of the game. It's going to take a lot.''

Promoter Don King would like the winner of Jones-Ruiz to fight the winner of Holyfield-Byrd, with the winner of that fight to take on Lewis for the undisputed championship.

--Martin-St. John: After Christy Martin outpointed Mia St. John on Friday, she was told promoter Peter Klamka would withhold $200,000 of her purse because, he claims, she breached her contract by failing to show up for promotional events.

Moments earlier, Lucia Rijker said she had reached an agreement with Klamka to fight Martin.

Think Martin will get her money up front this time?

--More Martin-St. John: St. John, a resident of Calabasas, did surprisingly well, surviving 10 rounds and taking everything Martin had to offer.

``I'm very happy,'' St. John said. ``I fought one of the greatest fighters in the world for 10 rounds, when no one thought I would last 30 seconds. I'm proud of that.''

Martin applauded St. John but said she had an off-night.

``I stunk tonight, because I was so rusty,'' she said. ``But give Mia credit; no one thought she had a chance, and she showed a lot of heart out there. She gave me a lot of trouble with her movement.''

--Klitschko-McCline: Wladimir Klitschko didn't do much for his reputation Saturday in Las Vegas.

The heavyweight from Ukraine handled an overwhelmed Jameel McCline fairly easily, stopping him after 10 rounds. However, the fight was painfully boring as Klitschko fought cautiously and had difficulty landing clean punches.

I don't think the fighter we saw Saturday has a chance against Lennox Lewis. And if Klitschko wants to become the star some believe he will be, he must entertain the fans.

On the undercard, Floyd Mayweather Jr. proved again he's an exceptional fighter, easily outpointing Jose Luis Castillo in a rematch of their controversial first fight.

However, days before the fight, promoter Bob Arum said he can't wait for his contract with Mayweather to expire after the fighter failed to show up for a news conference.

No one can blame Arum, who's had enough of Mayweather's attitude.

Mayweather could've been one of boxing's brightest stars if not for his whining, nasty comments and objectionable behavior, particularly with Arum in his corner. Perhaps it's not too late for him to turn things around but he'll have to grow up quickly.

COMING UP

FRIDAY

--Angel Hernandez vs. J.C. Candelo, super welterweights, Temecula, Calif., ESPN2. Also, Teddy Reid vs. Sam Garr, welterweights.

--Jorge Paez vs. Anthony Martinez, Tucson, Ariz., Telefutura

SATURDAY

--Evander Holyfield vs. Chris Byrd, for the vacant IBF heavyweight title, Atlantic City, N.J., HBO.

--Joe Calzaghe vs Tocker Pudwill, for Calzaghe's WBO super middleweight title, Newcastle, England. No TV.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

A fight between WBA heavyweight champ John Ruiz, left, and light heavyweight champ Roy Jones Jr., right, will be a contrast in styles.

Chitose Suzuki/Associated Press

Box:

COMING UP (see text)