José Ribalta Explained

José Ribalta
Realname:José Manuel Ribalta
Nickname:El Nino
Weight:Heavyweight
Height:6feet
Reach:800NaN0
Birth Date:1963 3, mf=yes
Birth Place:Rodrigo, Cuba
Style:Orthodox
Total:56
Wins:38
Ko:27
Losses:17
Draws:1

José Manuel Ribalta (born March 31, 1963) is a Cuban former professional boxer who competed in the heavyweight division from 1982 to 1999. A talented and physically imposing gatekeeper (6 ft 6 in tall with 80 in reach),[1] Ribalta is best known for his brave performance against Mike Tyson in 1986.[2]

Beside Tyson, Ribalta faced many notable fighters during the peak of his career, among which he had beaten former undisputed HW world champion Leon Spinks by 1st round stoppage,[3] lost to Frank Bruno also by stoppage, and was closely outpointed by Larry Holmes, Tim Witherspoon, Tony Tubbs, Michael Dokes and (controversely) James "Bonecrusher" Smith. Nearing retirement, he was stopped by Vitali Klitschko, Chris Byrd and Donovan "Razor" Ruddock.[4]

Early life

Ribalta's family fled Cuba by way of the Freedom Flights in 1967 and settled in Adams Morgan area of Washington, D.C. Then four years later the family moved to Miami, the city with the largest Cuban diaspora outside of Cuba. Both of his older brothers (all three were named José) were boxers. The oldest brother (the first to move to the United States) competed in the welterweight division and had three professional fights in the US. The middle of the three brothers was a boxer in Cuba, where he faced Teófilo Stevenson three times in the amateur ring and lost to him three times, and also fought Aziz Salihu. The younger José started boxing in the United States in the mid-1970s. He did not go through the Cuban school, but became the best known of the Ribalta brothers.[5]

Professional career

Ribalta made his professional debut in 1982. He had 10 straight wins. In 1983, he lost to Ricardo Richardson by TKO in the 7th round. Then Ribalta won another 7 fights. Advancing on the list of professional boxing rankings, Ribalta made his living as a sparring partner for WBC champion Trevor Berbick and title contender Gerry Cooney.[6]

In July 1985, his first nationally televised bout took place against James "Bonecrusher" Smith. Ribalta lost by a split decision. The audience was loudly outraged by the decision of the judges, and Ribalta considered that he was "robbed". In September 1985, Ribalta faced Marvis Frazier. After a close battle, Frazier won the fight by a majority decision. In May 1986, he was knocked down by David Jaco, but managed to turn the tide of the fight and won by knockout in the fifth round.

On 17 August 1986, Ribalta faced Mike Tyson in a fight broadcast on HBO prepaid at the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. At the time of the fight, Ribalta was ranked #10 in the WBC ranking. In the fight, Ribalta was knocked down three times and eventually lost by TKO in the 10th round, when the fight was stopped after Tyson's next series of strikes landed on Ribalta, who was pressed against the ropes. Tyson hit Ribalta 220 times. In 2014, Tyson rated Ribalta as the strongest opponent he faced, and the one with the best chin.[7]

In 1987, Ribalta defeated Leon Spinks, knocking him down three times in the first round. Then he defeated Mark Young and Steve Zouski.

In 1990, Ribalta faced Tim Witherspoon and lost by majority decision.

In 1991, he lost to Bruce Seldon and Pierre Coetzer.

In April 1992, he was knocked out by Frank Bruno in the 2nd round. In October 1992, Ribalta faced Michael Dokes and lost by unanimous decision.

In September 1993, he lost against Larry Holmes by unanimous decision. In December 1993, Ribalta lost a unanimous decision in a 3-round bout against Tony Tubbs in a national heavyweight tournament in the Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi.

In 1994, Ribalta lost against Joe Hipp by knockout in the 2nd round. Then he won five fights, which were followed by losses against Axel Schulz, Larry Donald, Vitali Klitschko, and Chris Byrd.

In 1999, Ribalta lost by knockout in the 1st round against Donovan Ruddock, after which he retired from professional boxing.

He was inducted into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014.[8]

Ribalta is the author of “Courage In The Ring“, his autobiography of his life as a professional athlete.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
56Loss38–17–1 Donovan RuddockTKO1 (10), Oct 8, 1999
55Loss38–16–1 Chris ByrdRTD 3 (10), Jun 3, 1999
54Loss38–15–1 Vitali KlitschkoTKO2 (8), Jun 5, 1998
53Loss38–14–1 Larry DonaldTKO6 (10)Jul 15, 1997
52Loss38–13–1 Axel SchulzUD10Dec 7, 1996
51Win38–12–1 James HolleyTKO1 (10)Apr 6, 1996
50Win37–12–1 Bruce JohnsonKO1 (10)Dec 9, 1995
49Win36–12–1 Carlton WestTKO1 (10)Oct 11, 1995
48Win35–12–1 George HarrisTKO2 (10)Sep 22, 1995
47Win34–12–1 John Basil JacksonPTS8 (10)Mar 15, 1995
46Loss33–12–1 Joe HippKO2 (12), May 10, 1994
45Loss33–11–1 Tony TubbsUD3Dec 3, 1993
44Win33–10–1 Derek WilliamsSD3 Dec 3, 1993
43Loss32–10–1 Larry HolmesUD10 Sep 28, 1993
42Win32–9–1 Wes TurnerTKO4 Jul 10, 1993
41Loss31-9–1 Michael DokesUD10Oct 6, 1992
40Loss31–8–1 Frank BrunoKO2 (10), Apr 22, 1992
39Loss31–7–1 Pierre CoetzerPTS10May 11, 1991
38Loss31–6–1 Bruce Seldon3 (10), Jan 11, 1991
37Loss31–5–1 Tim WitherspoonMD10Jul 19, 1990
36Win31–4–1 Michael JohnsonKO2Feb 9, 1990
35Win30–4–1 Jose AllencastroKO2Oct 6, 1989
34Win29–4–1 Jeff SimsUD10 Jul 21, 1989
33Win28–4–1 Jerry HairstonKO1Jun 2, 1989
32Win27–4–1 Jose GarciaKO1Jun 3, 1988
31Win26-4-1 Steve ZouskiUD10Sep 12, 1987
30Win25–4–1 Mark YoungUD10 May 16, 1987
29Win24–4–1 Leon SpinksTKO1 (10), Jan 17, 1987
28Win23–4–1 John WilliamsTKO2 (10), Sep 26, 1986
27Loss22–4–1 Mike TysonTKO10 (10), Aug 17, 1986
26Win22–3–1 Rick KellarKO1 (10)Jun 20, 1986
25Win21–3–1 David JacoKO5 (10)May 13, 1986
24Win20–3–1 Jeff FreeneyKO1 (10)Apr 4, 1986
23Win19–3–1 Al HouckKO3 (10)Mar 4, 1986
22Loss18–3–1 Marvis Frazier10Sep 11, 1985
21Win18–2–1 Ernie BarrUD10Jul 23, 1985
20Loss17–2–1 James Smith10Apr 29, 1985
19Draw17–1–1 Cecil CoffeePTS10Oct 18, 1984
18Win17–1 Nate RobinsonTKO2 (8)Jul 26, 1984
17Win16–1 Jimmy Jones8Mar 8, 1984
16Win15–1 Juan Antonio Figueroa7 (10)Dec 15, 1983
15Win14–1 Ishaq HusseinTKO6 (6)Oct 25, 1983
14Win13–1 Robert EvansUD8Sep 1, 1983
13Win12–1 Tom PraterUD8Jun 3, 1983
12Win11–1 Ron HarryTKO6 (8)Apr 29, 1983
11Loss10–1 Ricardo RichardsonTKO7 (10)Feb 18, 1983
10Win10–0 Miles PrinceTKO2Jan 14, 1983
9Win9–0 Nate RobinsonTKO5Nov 6, 1982
8Win8–0 John L JohnsonKO1Oct 21, 1982
7Win7–0 Al LetickyKO1 (8)Sep 30, 1982
6Win6–0 Curtis GaskinsTKO2 (6)Jul 20, 1982
5Win5–0 Gabriel SaenzKO2 (6)Jul 9, 1982
4Win4–0 Kenneth WringKO3 (6)Jun 18, 1982
3Win3–0 Ken Davis4May 21, 1982
2Win2–0 Douglas Fowler2 (4)Feb 5, 1982
1Win1–0 J C Richardson1 (4)Jan 20, 1982

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jose Ribalta - Still chasing Mike Tyson . 2023-10-02 . SecondsOut Boxing News . En.
  2. News: Berger . Phil . Times . Special To the New York . 1986-08-18 . TYSON WINS 26TH, KNOCKS OUT RIBALTA . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-10-02 . 0362-4331.
  3. Web site: Archives . L. A. Times . 1987-01-18 . Decked Three Times, Leon Spinks Stopped in First Round . 2023-10-02 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  4. Web site: From Mike Tyson to Vitali Klitschko: Jose Ribalta Speaks to RSR about Boxing Career . 2023-10-02 . RingSide Report . en-US.
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhf-hOJisM Mike Tyson vs Jose Ribalta 26th of 58 Aug. 1986
  6. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/446238743/ Jose Ribalta confident he can defeat Tyson in tonight's fight
  7. Web site: Best I faced: Mike Tyson . The Ring. 13 May 2018.
  8. Web site: Former heavyweight Jose Ribalta set to join Florida Boxing Hall of Fame. Miami Herald. 16 June 2014.