Jamaican-Canadian heavyweight boxer Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock is determined to help his community of Red Ground, St Catherine in Jamaica. With the same determination and grit he demonstrated in taking on the most destructive heavyweight the world has ever seen, Mike Tyson, so too Ruddock wants to help Jamaican children channel their energies and talents.

Nobility has always been a hallmark of his character.

Speaking in an interview with Our Today at the AC Marriott in St Andrew, Ruddock said: “I grew up in Jamaica and know the hardship kids have here in learning at school, particularly in my neighbourhood of  Red Ground District in St Catherine. I attended the Good Hope Primary School. I am proud of where I was born. It’s not where you are born, it’s where you are going – that’s the important thing.

“When I went to Canada to enhance my knowledge and education, I realised the kids in Jamaica are starting off behind the starting line. So, I figured with the success I have had with boxing and given what I have learnt over the years, I can now give back, particularly making a contribution to learning and education.”

Ruddock will be 60 next year and looks like a man 20 years younger. He remains a terrific specimen. It is not difficult to imagine him still being able to perform at a top level in the ring.

He remarked that it is difficult for many children to learn in the heat, particularly when many schools do not have air conditioning units. He is here in Jamaica to dedicate his time and money. He would like to play a role in getting the government involved in helping children with schooling, particularly in the rural areas.

“The reason why so many kids in rural areas drop out of school is because of the fact that when they start off in kindergarten, growing to Grade 6, they then have to find money to take the bus to go to high school and expenses get higher so they drop out.

“My plan is to go to my community, box and use those receipts to help fund kids at school.”

Ruddock fought Mike Tyson twice for the heavyweight title and on the second occasion went the distance. Tyson has always said Ruddock was his toughest opponent.

“Ruddock is a tough guy. He hurt me a couple of times. He had a good heart. He came to fight,” Tyson said back in 1991.

The way Ruddock sees it, he has never retired and is still capable of taking on anybody out there, despite closing in on 60. In fact, he said he is training for a walking event at the next Olympics.

Today he has eight children, four sons and four daughters. His daughter, Cleopatra, is with him here in Jamaica to help him with his initiative in Red Ground District. She serves as his agent and is very knowledgeable about both the sport and business of boxing.

Ruddock has another daughter, Karese, who is also part of his management team. He also has a son who is a boxer.

Ruddock continued: “Boxing is an art and I am here in Jamaica to bring it back. I also want to supply sporting facilities to firstly my community in St Catherine and then the rest of the country. Our first project will be a boxing exhibition which we are aiming to have by Q3 this year. We are now finalising contracts and putting a number of things in place.

“The short-term goal is to provide the means for the students of Red Ground’s Good Hope School to continue their education. At the moment, some children are being turned away because there is an overflow. We will be using a portion of the funds we generate from the exhibition to give back to the school and help with our collaboration with the Jamaica Boxing Association’s ‘Gloves over Guns’ initiative. The aim is to expand the sport of boxing in Jamaica.”