Action Gets Heavy at Weigh-In for Jones-Ruiz

LAS VEGAS —  It was to be the most intriguing weigh-in in the heavyweight division in 18 years. How far up on the scale had light-heavyweight champion Roy Jones come in his bid to defeat World Boxing Assn. heavyweight champion John Ruiz on Saturday night at Thomas & Mack Center?

The answer got buried Thursday under a pile of bodies at the center of the Palace Ballroom at Caesars Palace.

Before the fighters even stepped on the scales, trainers Norman Stone from Ruiz’s side and Alton Merkerson from Jones’ corner got into a brawl that ended with Stone, 49, being taken to Valley Hospital.

After security separated the combatants, the weigh-in proceeded. Ruiz came in at 226 pounds, Jones at 193.

And that 193 requires an asterisk. Jones weighed in wearing sneakers, a sweat suit -- perhaps with weights underneath.

That was the tactic employed by light-heavyweight Bob Foster in 1970 when he challenged heavyweight champion Joe Frazier. Foster, who actually weighed 178 for the fight, wore a weighted belt underneath his trunks when he got on the scales. Foster’s official weight was 188, but that didn’t seem to bother Frazier, who knocked Foster out in the second round.

Thursday’s weight disparity is the biggest since 1972 when Foster came in 41 pounds lighter than Muhammad Ali, who won by KO in the eighth round. The only title Ali held at that point, however, was the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight crown.

The last time there was a bigger weight discrepancy between a light-heavyweight and a bona fide heavyweight titleholder was in 1941 when Billy Conn came in at 169, 35 pounds lighter than Joe Louis. Conn led through 12 rounds before getting knocked out in the 13th.

The fight between Stone and Merkerson was over the gloves to be used. Stone demanded to look at Jones’ gloves, insinuating they had been tampered with. Merkerson got in Stone’s face, heated words were exchanged and Merkerson punched Stone.

Two other punches, which came out of a crowd of Jones’ supporters, also hit Stone as the group tumbled off the platform.

At first, Stone seemed to have sustained only a bloody lip and a swollen hand. But when he began experiencing pain in his neck and ribs, became dizzy and started sweating profusely, the ballroom was cleared and he was taken out on a stretcher.

Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, expressed no concern about the 10-ounce gloves to be used in the fight, saying they were still packed and sealed, as required, when they arrived at the ballroom.

While others expressed disgust at yet another shameful scene for boxing, promoter Don King was chortling as he left the ballroom. Tickets for the fight and the pay-per-view telecast have been slow to move and even bad publicity couldn’t hurt.

At least there was a new twist. Usually it’s the fighters who get into the weigh-in brawl.