Jose Nino Ribalta Rates The Top Heavyweights Today
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
Miami, FL (February 10, 2013)– Jose ‘El Nino’ Ribalta of North Miami Beach, Florida, is a former top ranked Cuban heavyweight contender who fought in 56 professional bouts between 1982 and 1999. Today, Ribalta works in the Florida Public schools as a middle school security guard, is also a Florida group home worker who works with and cares for autistic adults, and works in amateur and professional boxing as a trainer.
In his second exclusive interview with Real Combat Media, Ribalta, whose resume includes bouts with Dr. Vitali Klitschko, Iron Mike Tyson, Chris Byrd, Michael Dokes, Larry Holmes, Tony Tubbs, Joe Hipp, Tim Witherspoon, Frank Bruno, James Bonecrusher Smith and many others, rated the top heavyweight fighters in the game today.
Jose Ribalta rates the number one heavyweight in the world, Vitali Klitschko
Jose Ribalta: “Vitali. When I fought Vitali Klitschko I had a fever. They told me ‘we have too many people here at this fight, you cannot pull out’. Vitali couldn’t really punch. He hit me with his jab. I was just weak. To me he punched just a little bit harder than Tyrell Biggs (at that time). I think Vitali’s gotten a little bit stronger, but I don’t think his boxing ability has improved that much. People have good boxing skill, but there hasn’t been anybody able to rough him up yet.”
Real Combat Media: “What about Chris Byrd?”
Vitali lost to Byrd, who I fought right after I fought Vitali. Byrd outslicked Vitali, Byrd outmaneuvered him. Byrd can’t punch at all, but he was able to outslick Vitlai and out think him. I would not have minded fighting Vitali Klitschko again. In my prime, I would fought Vitali fight in a way to rough him up a little bit. Lennox Lewis fought the right fight against him exactly, he measured him like a Mike Tyson. Lennox counterpunched Vitali perfectly. Every time Vitali punched and threw a right hand, Lennox threw two. Klitschko threw two or three jabs, Lennox threw three too. He outmaneuvered him because Vitali is more mechanical of a fighter.”
Jose Ribalta rates the number two heavyweight in the world, Wladimir Klitschko
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Wladimir Klitschko. He and his brother Vitali basically fighting the same style. Corries Sanders said I’m going for broke, I’m gonna throw heavy shots, and see where Wladimir’s at. He caught Wladimir with power shots. Sanders threw a lot of power shots to see how they would land. I really don’t think Wladimir has a good chin, just an average chin. Corrie Sanders exposed him back in the day, but he Wladimir hasn’t rally had a good fight since he fought Corrie Sanders because there really aren’t any great fighters left. The Klitschkos came into professional boxing at a time when great fighters like Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Tim Witherspoon were leaving the game. The timing was right for them.”
Jose Ribalta rates the number three heavyweight in the world, Kubrat Pulev
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Kubrat Pulev is the European heavyweight champion. European fighters are never really in shape for really great fighters, they are too basic, very strong but very easy targets to hit. He’ll definitely get a shot at a title fight because there’s no competition out there. 17-0 is enough in this day and age.”
Jose Ribalta rates the number four heavyweight in the world, Tomasz Adamek
Jose Nino Ribalta:” Tomasz Adamek. He trains, but the competition of boxing is not the same. Adamek is pretty much a straight up fighter at 6’1″. He fought Vitali, and he’s too small of a heavyweight for the Klitschko style of boxing. I know I could beat Adamek in my prime, Adamek’s an easier target to hit. Give him a little movement and go for the head, and Adamek won’t be able to keep up with you.”
Jose Ribalta rates the number five heavyweight in the world, David Haye
Jose Nino Ribalta: “David Haye is a decent fighter. He has a decent chance of beating Vitali Klitschko, as David has good hand speed and punching power. To beat Vitali, David needs good counter punching skills. I don’t think David Haye or Vitali have very good chins. I hooked up with David on Facebook. I wanted to help train David for Wladimir. If I had worked with David. I know he would have eaten Wladimir alive. I know how to fight the Klitschkos.”
Jose Ribalta rates the number six heavyweight in the world, Alexander Povetkin
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Alexander Povetkin is playing a waiting game with hia WBA world heavyweight title, waiting for the Klitschkos to become slower fighters. They are already mechanical fighters. If Riddick Bowe had reached the Klitschkos early in their career, Bowe would have knocked them both out. But with Povetkin, that’s not the case at all. Povetkin will have to catch the Klitschkos when their reflexes are too slow, which probably be in the next two years. The Klitschkos for some reason are getting slower.”
Real Combat Media: “Nino, you fought Larry Holmes and sparred Muhammad Ali.”
Jose Nino Ribalta: “The Klitschko brothers are not like Larry Holmes, who had great hand speed. Even when I sparred with an older Muhammad Ali past his prime, when I sparred with Ali, he still hand his hand speed in 1984 in Florida. He was working out in the gym, and he asked me to spar. Before me, Ali sparred in the gym with the late German heavyweight champion Reiner Hartmann. The German heavyweight tried to kill Ali in the ring and knock his head. But Muhammad still had pretty good reflexes at that time and was able to deal with both me and Hartmann. Ali spoke to me very briefly after the sparring session, and said I was a good fighter and I had good potential. I was scheduled to fight Cecil Coffee at that time, and then James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith afterwards.”
Real Combat Media: “Is Povetkin ready for the Klitschko brothers?”
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Alexander Povetkin is not ready for the Klitschkos right now. In the next year and a half to two years, Povetkin has to pick up a little bit more on his speed. The Klitschkos look slower now. Povetkin has to pick up his hand speed in order to rough up and make it a dirty fight with the Klitschkos. That’s his only shot of winning. He has a better chance than Tyson Fury of beating the Klitschkos.”
Jose Ribalta rates the number seven heavyweight in the world, Tyson Fury
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Tyson Fury. I think Tyson Fury will get stopped in five rounds against either of the Klitschkos. Tyson Fury is too immature as a fighter to fight the Klitschkos now. I saw Tyson Fury fight twice, and he’s was so slow and so mechanical. I even offered to train Tyson Fury at one time. Fury’s not ready for the Klitschkos. He’s really really mechanical. You can see all of his punches coming.”
Jose Ribalta rates the number eight heavyweight in the world, Odlanier Solis Fonte
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Odlanier Solis Fonte. I believe he has a heart. He didn’t think the Klitschkos were that tough. He twisted his ankle, he was limping, and gave up before the end of the first round. I think he has a better shot (fighting) with Wladimir.”
Jose Ribalta rates the number nine heavyweight in the world, Robert Helenius
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Robert Helenius. He has good punching towel and he’s tall. I believe he has a good chance of beating the Klitschkos. The Klitschkos have their European style of fighting. Once you come to them, if you come with a European style of boxing, that’s to their advantage. His style is different, more similar to Mike Tyson. Most heavyweight fighters with good head movement in history have defeated taller European fighters.
Real Combat Media: “Nino, can you provide some examples of that logic?”
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Jerry Quarry saw European Heavyweight champion Jack Bodell’s was standing straight up and his chin was an easy target for his left hook (and finished Bodell in the first round). Teofilo Stevenson was similar to European fighters. He stood straight up in his stance, and he had trouble with a guy named Woody Clark in the amateurs. Clark was short but tough, and he was the same height as Iron Mike Tyson. Clark had good head movement and Stevenson had trouble hitting him. Robert Helenius needs to have fast head movement, and be able to hit with power and do like Corrie Sanders did with Wladimir Klitschko, go for hard head shots. In boxing terminology we call these hard head shots ‘head makers’, and they occur when you swing with your hands at the head as hard as you can.”
Jose Ribalta rates the number ten heavyweight in the world, Johnathon Banks
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Johnathon Banks is training and sparring with the Klitschkos in Germany. Banks will be fighting Alexander Povetkin soon. Povetkin will most likely knock Banks out. Banks is more of a stocky fighter, not a stick and move fighter like Muhammad Ali. Against Povetkin, a strong champion in good shape, Banks will be too flat footed. Banks stopped Seth Mitchell in two, an ex-football player in who I don’t see much boxing potential. Banks beat Mitchell because he’s an ex-football player who doesn’t really have boxing skills or the right experience. ”
Real Combat Media: “Banks and Mitchell will be fighting a rematch in 2013.”
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Banks-Mitchell II is still a mismatch. Mitchell really needs a world class trainer to possess boxing skills, and learn the old skill basics. I saw Mitchell fight in Florida and I was not impressed. Banks will beat Seth Mitchell again. Mitchell’s not a big threat, so I say go ahead and do it (the rematch). I don’t think Mitchell’s training method is going to change much in the rematch. Mitchell is going to come go the second time the same as he did the first time. I think Mitchell will be caught easier the second time by Banks. It all depends who Mitchell has in his corner. I contacted both Mitchell and David Haye on Facebook, and I wanted to train them. It didn’t lead to anything.”
Jose Ribalta rates the number eleven heavyweight in the world, Vyaheslav Glazkov
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Vyacheslav Glazkov of the Ukraine versus Malik Scott of Philadelphia. Glazkov was a 2008 Olympic Games Super Heavyweight competitor. Olympic fighters are more hungrier. Scott is 35-0, fighting a bunch of nobodies. If you to the Olympics, you have to fight some tough competition, the top boxers. Scott is a decent fighter. Glazkov has a lot of power and could possibly knock Scott out, but it depends how well Scott moves. Most likely Scott will not be able to be hit by a super heavyweight like Glazkov who can really punch.”
Real Combat Media: “Break down Glazkov and Malik Scott.”
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Glazkov (14-0, 10 knockouts) has a better knockout ratio than Scott (25-0, 12 knockouts). You cannot fight a bunch of nobodies. You have to have people (opponents) who are really good. Boxing has gotten more strict now, but you’ve a guy winning fights over easier fighters but it doesn’t prove nothing. Even in sparring, these guys who take easy fighters need hard sparring. If you have an easy fight, if you have rough sparring you’ll definitely learn.”
Real Combat Media: “Could any of the heavyweight names we discussed get lucky and defeat Wladimir Klitschko or Vitali Klitschko, or both of them?”
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Yes. The Klitschkos are getting older, of course. Like Leon Spinks got with Ali. Lucky.”
Real Combat Media: “Nino, in your last interview with Real Combat Media you said there a possibility you would return to the ring. Is it still possible?”
Jose Nino Ribalta: “Definitely. I might return to the ring by the end of 2013. If I get one of these young guys to train, a heavyweight, then I will work as a trainer and not return to the ring. I’ll be a trainer. But, If I’m not training anybody then I’ll go back to the gym. Thank god my health is good. I do 400 pushups a day, I want to get up to 1000 pushups a day, like Ron Lyle did when he was preparing to fight Muhammad Ali for the world title. It would be a six rounder for charity, to raise money the Police Athletic League club for the young kids. I’d get licensed in Florida or wherever. I’m in great health, thank God for that.”
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