# José Ribalta

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), Ribalta is best known for his brave performance against Mike Tyson in 1986.
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, 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.

## 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.

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

## Professional boxing record

| 56 fights | 38 wins | 17 losses |
| By knockout | 27 | 9 |
| By decision | 10 | 8 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 56 | Loss | 38–17–1 | Donovan Ruddock | TKO | 1 (10), 1:40 | Oct 8, 1999 | Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S. | |
| 55 | Loss | 38–16–1 | Chris Byrd | RTD | 3 (10), 3:00 | Jun 3, 1999 | Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 54 | Loss | 38–15–1 | Vitali Klitschko | TKO | 2 (8), 2:13 | Jun 5, 1998 | Sporthalle Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany | |
| 53 | Loss | 38–14–1 | Larry Donald | TKO | 6 (10) | Jul 15, 1997 | Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, New York | |
| 52 | Loss | 38–13–1 | Axel Schulz | UD | 10 | Dec 7, 1996 | Vienna, Austria |
| 51 | Win | 38–12–1 | James Holley | TKO | 1 (10) | Apr 6, 1996 | Peel's Palace, Erlanger, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 37–12–1 | Bruce Johnson | KO | 1 (10) | Dec 9, 1995 | MARK of the Quad Cities, Moline, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 36–12–1 | Carlton West | TKO | 1 (10) | Oct 11, 1995 | International Ballroom, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 35–12–1 | George Harris | TKO | 2 (10) | Sep 22, 1995 | Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 34–12–1 | John Basil Jackson | PTS | 8 (10) | Mar 15, 1995 | Harmarville, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 46 | Loss | 33–12–1 | Joe Hipp | KO | 2 (12), 1:53 | May 10, 1994 | Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S. | For NABF heavyweight title |
| 45 | Loss | 33–11–1 | Tony Tubbs | UD | 3 | Dec 3, 1993 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 33–10–1 | Derek Williams | SD | 3 | Dec 3, 1993 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 43 | Loss | 32–10–1 | Larry Holmes | UD | 10 | Sep 28, 1993 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 32–9–1 | Wes Turner | TKO | 4 | Jul 10, 1993 | Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 41 | Loss | 31-9–1 | Michael Dokes | UD | 10 | Oct 6, 1992 | Mahi Shrine Temple, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 40 | Loss | 31–8–1 | Frank Bruno | KO | 2 (10), 1:44 | Apr 22, 1992 | Wembley Arena, London, England | |
| 39 | Loss | 31–7–1 | Pierre Coetzer | PTS | 10 | May 11, 1991 | Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 38 | Loss | 31–6–1 | Bruce Seldon | RTD | 3 (10), 3:00 | Jan 11, 1991 | Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 37 | Loss | 31–5–1 | Tim Witherspoon | MD | 10 | Jul 19, 1990 | Kingdome, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 31–4–1 | Michael Johnson | KO | 2 | Feb 9, 1990 | Palacio de los Deportes, Zaragoza, Spain | |
| 35 | Win | 30–4–1 | Jose Allencastro | KO | 2 | Oct 6, 1989 | Zaragoza, Spain | |
| 34 | Win | 29–4–1 | Jeff Sims | UD | 10 | Jul 21, 1989 | Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 28–4–1 | Jerry Hairston | KO | 1 | Jun 2, 1989 | Holiday Inn, Parkersburg, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 27–4–1 | Jose Garcia | KO | 1 | Jun 3, 1988 | Raleigh County Armory, Beckley, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 26-4-1 | Steve Zouski | UD | 10 | Sep 12, 1987 | James L. Knight Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 25–4–1 | Mark Young | UD | 10 | May 16, 1987 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 24–4–1 | Leon Spinks | TKO | 1 (10), 2:10 | Jan 17, 1987 | Coconut Grove Convention Center, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 23–4–1 | John Williams | TKO | 2 (10), 0:50 | Sep 26, 1986 | Abel Holtz Stadium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 27 | Loss | 22–4–1 | Mike Tyson | TKO | 10 (10), 1:37 | Aug 17, 1986 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 22–3–1 | Rick Kellar | KO | 1 (10) | Jun 20, 1986 | Milander Auditorium, Hialeah, Florida, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 21–3–1 | David Jaco | KO | 5 (10) | May 13, 1986 | Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 20–3–1 | Jeff Freeney | KO | 1 (10) | Apr 4, 1986 | Convention Center, Coconut Grove, Florida, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 19–3–1 | Al Houck | KO | 3 (10) | Mar 4, 1986 | Auditorium, Coconut Grove, Florida, U.S. | |
| 22 | Loss | 18–3–1 | Marvis Frazier | MD | 10 | Sep 11, 1985 | Trump Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 18–2–1 | Ernie Barr | UD | 10 | Jul 23, 1985 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 20 | Loss | 17–2–1 | James Smith | SD | 10 | Apr 29, 1985 | Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |
| 19 | Draw | 17–1–1 | Cecil Coffee | PTS | 10 | Oct 18, 1984 | Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Nate Robinson | TKO | 2 (8) | Jul 26, 1984 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Jimmy Jones | PTS | 8 | Mar 8, 1984 | James Knight Convention Center, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Juan Antonio Figueroa | DQ | 7 (10) | Dec 15, 1983 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Ishaq Hussein | TKO | 6 (6) | Oct 25, 1983 | Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Robert Evans | UD | 8 | Sep 1, 1983 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Tom Prater | UD | 8 | Jun 3, 1983 | Milander Auditorium, Hialeah, Florida, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Ron Harry | TKO | 6 (8) | Apr 29, 1983 | Ventura Skating Center, Hialeah, Florida, U.S. | |
| 11 | Loss | 10–1 | Ricardo Richardson | TKO | 7 (10) | Feb 18, 1983 | Milander Auditorium, Hialeah, Florida, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Miles Prince | TKO | 2 | Jan 14, 1983 | Milander Auditorium, Hialeah, Florida, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Nate Robinson | TKO | 5 | Nov 6, 1982 | War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | John L Johnson | KO | 1 | Oct 21, 1982 | Ventura Skating Center, Hialeah, Florida, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Al Leticky | KO | 1 (8) | Sep 30, 1982 | Ventura Skating Center, Hialeah, Florida, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Curtis Gaskins | TKO | 2 (6) | Jul 20, 1982 | War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Gabriel Saenz | KO | 2 (6) | Jul 9, 1982 | Milander Auditorium, Hialeah, Florida, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Kenneth Wring | KO | 3 (6) | Jun 18, 1982 | Milander Auditorium, Hialeah, Florida, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Ken Davis | UD | 4 | May 21, 1982 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Douglas Fowler | KO | 2 (4) | Feb 5, 1982 | North Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | J C Richardson | TKO | 1 (4) | Jan 20, 1982 | War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | |