John Ruiz

Last updated
John Ruiz
John Ruiz.jpg
Ruiz with the WBA heavyweight title belt at the White House, 2001
Born (1972-01-04) January 4, 1972 (age 52)
Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S.
Other namesThe Quietman
Statistics
Weight(s) Heavyweight
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm) [1]
Reach80 in (203 cm) [1]
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights55
Wins44
Wins by KO30
Losses9
Draws1
No contests1

John Ruiz (born January 4, 1972) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2010, and held the WBA heavyweight title twice between 2001 and 2005. Ruiz is of Puerto Rican descent, and is the first Latino boxer to win a world heavyweight title. [2]

Contents

Amateur career

Professional career

First reign as WBA heavyweight champion

After Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield for the undisputed (WBA, WBC, and IBF) heavyweight title in late 1999, the WBA ordered Lewis to defend the title against mandatory challenger Ruiz, but Lewis refused. Though he had been undefeated since his 1st round 19 second loss against David Tua in 1996, the level of competition Ruiz had been facing was suspect and the only name he had beaten (to date) was a nearly 40-year-old Tony Tucker.

Ruiz and his management sued, claiming that WBA rules entitled him to a title shot. A judge agreed, but rather than face Ruiz in a bout that was seen as commercially unattractive, Lewis instead fought Michael Grant, considered to be a very worthy contender at the time, having knocked out a series of recognized "name" opponents on HBO. After learning of this, the judge decreed that upon entering the ring against Grant on April 29, 2000, Lewis would automatically forfeit the WBA title.

Ruiz vs. Holyfield

Ruiz fought former champion Holyfield to fill the vacancy on August 12, 2000, losing by unanimous decision (this result made Holyfield the first to win a world heavyweight title on four occasions). Many observers and boxing reporters felt that the underdog Ruiz had done enough to win.

Due to this controversial decision, the WBA ordered an immediate rematch in early 2001, and Ruiz won the WBA title. Some critics still believe the decision was controversial (Ruiz was on the ground for a few minutes after Holyfield appeared to deliver a low punch to the groin). Footage following the match showed that the punch may have been legal, but it wasn't disputed.

Ruiz defended the title twice: a controversial draw in a third match against Holyfield where the press believed Holyfield to have won, and a disqualification victory against Kirk Johnson where the Canadian contender was disqualified for repeated low blows in the tenth round. Ruiz was accused in both the second Holyfield fight and the Johnson fight of faking low blows that actually seemed to be closer to his beltline than his groin (although Johnson was shown on replays to hit Ruiz below the belt several times).

Ruiz vs Jones Jr.

On March 1, 2003, Ruiz was contracted to fight Roy Jones Jr., who at the time was The Ring light heavyweight champion. If Jones was to beat Ruiz in the fight, he would join Bob Fitzsimmons, Michael Spinks, and Michael Moorer as the only three fighters to win titles at light heavyweight and heavyweight as well as becoming the second fighter (Fitzsimmons being the first) to win titles at both middleweight and heavyweight. Ruiz, who said referee Jay Nady "wouldn't let me fight my fight", lost a unanimous decision to Jones and moved back into the WBA's contender pool.

Second reign as WBA heavyweight champion

Ruiz, however, would receive another shot before 2003 was out. As champion Jones was required to face the WBA's number one contender, former WBO champion Vitali Klitschko. Neither the Jones nor the Klitschko camps were able to agree to a fight by an imposed deadline, so Jones became a champion-in-recess. Klitschko, however, did not want to fight the #2 contender, former WBC, IBF, and lineal champion Hasim Rahman, for the interim championship. After David Tua, the #3 contender, also turned down the fight against Rahman, Ruiz, the #5 contender and the only one interested in the fight, decided to accept. He fought Rahman on December 13, 2003, and with a unanimous decision victory became the WBA's interim champion. When Jones announced on February 24, 2004, that he would return to competing in the light heavyweight division, the WBA took the interim tag off Ruiz, and he became an official two-time WBA heavyweight champion.

On April 17, 2004, Ruiz fought the first defense of his second world title. He retained it with an eleventh-round technical knockout of Fres Oquendo at Madison Square Garden. This fight was historic in that it was the first time two Hispanics/Latinos faced each other for a version of world heavyweight title.

On November 13 of that same year, Ruiz retained the belt with a controversial unanimous decision over Polish-American [3] Andrew Golota – among other things he suffered two knockdowns and a one-point deduction by referee Randy Neumann. Ruiz vs Golota was the Main event of Don King's Night of Heavyweights card, it did 120,000 Pay-Per-View buys [4]

On April 30, 2005, Ruiz lost the title to James "Lights Out" Toney in Madison Square Garden by unanimous decision, marking the second time that Ruiz had lost to a former middleweight champion. Frustrated by years of criticism from the boxing press and fans, he retired upon his second loss of the WBA title on April 30, 2005 (to James "Lights-Out" Toney).

However, after Toney failed the post-match drug test (for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid), the New York Athletic Commission suspended him from boxing in the United States for 90 days, and fined him $10,000 (U.S.). The WBA banned the aging (then 36 years old) Toney from fighting for its heavyweight title for the next two years. This resulted in Toney's win being changed to a "no contest"—basically, a nullification which also reinstated Ruiz as champion. Ruiz came out of retirement after just ten days of his initial announcement, before it was found out that Toney would be suspended and he would be reinstated as champion. Ruiz then filed a lawsuit against Toney, claiming that he had damaged Ruiz's boxing career (due to Toney's use of illegal steroids before their bout).

Controversial loss to Valuev

On December 17, 2005, Ruiz lost the WBA Championship in Berlin to 7 ft. tall, 324-lb. Russian Nikolai Valuev. The official outcome was a majority decision (scored 114–116, 113–116, and 114–114), but it was also a controversial one. Ruiz was convinced that his jab/combination-punch technique had given him a clear victory. He demanded that his promoter, Don King, set up an immediate re-match with the now-first-ever Russian world heavyweight champion. Ruiz's long-time manager, Norman Stone, declared that they would also formally petition the WBA: after all, the 10,000 German spectators booed when the decision was announced. Ruiz's camp claimed that the Germans booed because they too felt that the outcome was unjust. Wilfried Sauerland, the manager who rescued Valuev's career from obscurity two years earlier, angrily countered that the fans had booed because Stone's in-ring behavior had agitated them. [5]

In September 2006 Ruiz announced that he would be managed by Sauerland. His former manager Norman Stone retired on December 22, 2005, stating that the decision in the loss to Valuev was the last straw, and he would continue to support Ruiz from retirement. [6]

Road back to title contention

After the loss Don King announced his intention to still promote Ruiz. King had become aware of Ruiz after his KO win over the former IBF title holder Tony Tucker in 1998. [7] Ruiz followed up the loss to Valuev with a fight against up-and-coming contender Ruslan Chagaev. In a close fight, Chagaev prevailed, taking a split decision with scores of 117–111 and 116–112 for Chagaev, and 115–114 for Ruiz. Chagaev became the mandatory challenger for a shot at Valuev, whom he defeated on April 14, 2007, to claim the WBA heavyweight championship.

Another comeback

Ruiz faced Otis Tisdale on October 13, 2007, and ended the fight with a TKO victory in the second round as referee Pete Podgorski called a halt to the bout as Tisdale went down for the third time. The bout was scheduled for 10 rounds. On March 8, 2008, Ruiz won a 12-round unanimous decision over Jameel McCline in Mexico.

Ruiz vs. Valuev II

Valuev defeated Ruiz by unanimous decision on August 30, 2008. Scores were 114–113, 116–113, and 116–111. The result was initially declared a split decision win for Valuev. The 114–113 score by ringside judge Takeshi Shimakawa was announced in favor of Ruiz. Shimakawa alerted WBA officials after that his score was intended for Valuev. One of the scorecards had the names of the fighters in opposite order, resulting in the confusion.

The decision was once again unpopular with the live crowd as some booed the outcome, much like the first match in December 2005.

Final world title shot

After petitioning the WBA to protest against the outcome of his controversial fight with Valuev, Ruiz was made the WBA's mandatory challenger to fight the winner of Chagaev-Valuev II in 2009. As that bout was cancelled, Ruiz stepped aside as mandatory challenger so Valuev could fight Cruiserweight Champion David Haye. On the undercard to that fight Ruiz stopped Adnan Serin in 7 rounds. Ruiz, coming in at 226 pounds (his lightest since 2001), dominated his overmatched opponent to retain his mandatory challenge to the WBA belt. Valuev later lost a majority decision to David Haye, meaning Ruiz would now fight Haye for the WBA title, after Haye had recovered from a hand injury. When the fight took place on April 3, 2010 at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, Ruiz lost to Haye by TKO when his corner threw in the towel in the ninth round after suffering four knockdowns in the previous rounds. Ruiz, whose face was covered in blood, could not stand up to Haye's greater speed and power.

Retirement

Following his loss to David Haye, Ruiz announced his retirement after an 18-year boxing career. He finished with a professional record of 44–9–1–1, with 30 knockouts. In 2013, he opened Quietman Sports Gym in Medford, Massachusetts, offering both boxing and MMA (mixed martial arts) training to all ages. While all ages are welcome, he focuses on providing an alternative for at-risk children and teenagers in the Greater Boston area. He has also indicated that he wants to return to boxing in some capacity as either a manager or trainer at some point. [8] In 2014, boxing.com ranked Ruiz as number 83 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time". [9]

Professional boxing record

55 fights44 wins9 losses
By knockout302
By decision137
By disqualification10
Draws1
No contests1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
55Loss44–9–1 (1) David Haye TKO9 (12), 2:01 Apr 3, 2010 MEN Arena, Manchester, EnglandFor WBA heavyweight title
54Win44–8–1 (1)Adnan SerinTKO7 (10) Nov 7, 2009 Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Germany
53Loss43–8–1 (1) Nikolai Valuev UD12 Aug 30, 2008 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, GermanyFor vacant WBA heavyweight title
52Win43–7–1 (1) Jameel McCline UD12 Mar 8, 2008 Plaza de Toros, Cancún, Mexico
51Win42–7–1 (1)Otis TisdaleTKO2 (10), 0:45Oct 13, 2007 Sears Centre Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S.
50Loss41–7–1 (1) Ruslan Chagaev SD12Nov 18, 2006Burg-Wächter Castello, Düsseldorf, Germany
49Loss41–6–1 (1) Nikolai Valuev MD12 Dec 17, 2005 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, GermanyLost WBA heavyweight title
48NC41–5–1 (1) James Toney UD12 Apr 30, 2005 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.WBA and IBA heavyweight titles at stake;
Originally a UD win for Toney, later ruled an NC after he failed a drug test
47Win41–5–1 Andrew Golota UD12 Nov 13, 2004 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained WBA heavyweight title
46Win40–5–1 Fres Oquendo TKO11 (12), 2:33 Apr 17, 2004 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained WBA heavyweight title
45Win39–5–1 Hasim Rahman UD12 Dec 13, 2003 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won WBA interim heavyweight title
44Loss38–5–1 Roy Jones Jr. UD12 Mar 1, 2003 Thomas & Mack Center Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBA heavyweight title
43Win38–4–1 Kirk Johnson DQ10 (12), 2:17Jul 27, 2002Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA heavyweight title;
Johnson disqualified for repeated low blows
42Draw37–4–1 Evander Holyfield SD12 Dec 15, 2001 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.Retained WBA heavyweight title
41Win37–4 Evander Holyfield UD12 Mar 3, 2001 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won WBA heavyweight title
40Loss36–4 Evander Holyfield UD12 Aug 12, 2000 Paris Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For vacant WBA heavyweight title
39Win36–3Thomas WilliamsTKO2 (12), 0:50Dec 11, 1999 Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.Retained NABA heavyweight title
38Win35–3Fernely FelizTKO7 (12), 3:00Jun 12, 1999 Aleppo Shrine Auditorium, Wilmington, Massachusetts, U.S.Won vacant WBA–NABA heavyweight title
37Win34–3Mario CawleyTKO4 (12), 1:09 Mar 13, 1999 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained WBA–NABA heavyweight title
36Win33–3Jerry BallardTKO4 (12), 2:17 Sep 19, 1998 Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.Retained NABF heavyweight title;
Won vacant WBA–NABA heavyweight title
35Win32–3 Tony Tucker TKO11 (12), 0:58Jan 31, 1998 Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida, U.S.Retained NABF heavyweight title
34Win31–3Ray AnisTKO1 (12), 0:22Jun 17, 1997Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.Retained NABF heavyweight title
33Win30–3 Jimmy Thunder SD12Jan 14, 1997 Hale Arena, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.Won vacant NABF heavyweight title
32Win29–3Yuriy YelistratovTKO3Nov 26, 1996York Hall, London, England
31Win28–3 Nathaniel Fitch TKO3 (6)Oct 25, 1996The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
30Win27–3Greg PickromTKO1 (10)Jul 18, 1996The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
29Win26–3Doug DavisTKO6 (10)Jun 6, 1996The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
28Loss25–3 David Tua KO1 (12), 0:19Mar 15, 1996Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Lost WBC International heavyweight title
27Win25–2Steve PannellTKO4 (10), 1:28 Oct 7, 1995 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26Win24–2Willie JacksonKO1 (10)Aug 24, 1995Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S.
25Win23–2Derrick RoddyKO2 (12), 2:56Jun 16, 1995 Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre, London, EnglandWon vacant WBC International heavyweight title
24Win22–2Michael MurrayTKO4 (10)May 17, 1995 Ipswich, England
23Win21–2Jack BastingTKO1 (8)Mar 30, 1995 York Hall, London, England
22Win20–2Boris PowellUD10Feb 4, 1995 Silver Nugget, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
21Win19–2Rick SullivanKO2Oct 1, 1994The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
20Loss18–2 Danell Nicholson SD12Aug 4, 1994Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.For vacant IBO heavyweight title
19Win18–1Muhammad AskaiTKO2Jun 25, 1994Revere, Massachusetts, U.S.
18Win17–1 Julius Francis KO4 (8), 2:38May 25, 1994 Colston Hall, Bristol, England
17Win16–1Carl WilliamsPTS6Nov 27, 1993 Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
16Win15–1Cordwell HyltonPTS6Nov 3, 1993Whitchurch Leisure Centre, Bristol, England
16Loss14–1 Sergei Kobozev SD10Aug 12, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
14Win14–0Exum SpeightUD8Jun 25, 1993Athletic Club, Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S.
13Win13–0George ChambersKO1Apr 30, 1993 Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S.
12Win12–0Mark SonnierTKO1Apr 16, 1993 Cyclorama Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
11Win11–0Juan QuintanaPTS6Apr 3, 1993 Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S.
10Win10–0Lorenzo PooleKO1Mar 20, 1993Revere, Massachusetts, U.S.
9Win9–0Derrick JonesTKO1Mar 5, 1993Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
8Win8–0Phil PrinceKO1Feb 20, 1993Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
7Win7–0Miguel RosaTKO2Jan 30, 1993 Commonwealth Armory, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
6Win6–0John Basil JacksonPTS6Jan 16, 1993 Belmont, New Hampshire, U.S.
5Win5–0Jesus RohenaTKO1, 1:46Dec 10, 1992Teachers Union Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
4Win4–0John Basil JacksonPTS6Nov 13, 1992 Revere, Massachusetts, U.S.
3Win3–0Barry KirtonTKO2Nov 3, 1992 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
2Win2–0Mike VasserKO1Sep 12, 1992 Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere, Massachusetts, U.S.
1Win1–0Kevin ParkerUD4Aug 20, 1992 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 HBO Sports tale of the tape prior to the Roy Jones Jr. fight.
  2. ↑ Rafael, Dan (26 April 2010). "Ex-champ Ruiz retires from boxing". ESPN. Retrieved 30 September 2016. Ruiz, whose family is from Puerto Rico, has lived and trained in Las Vegas for the past several years, but he said he plans to return to the Boston area he was closely associated with during his career.
  3. ↑ Brown, Clifton (15 November 2004). "Lots of Fighting, but Little Resolution for Boxing's Heavyweights". The New York Times . Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  4. ↑ Chicago Tribune
  5. ↑ "Angry Ruiz wants rematch after losing WBA title", ESPN, December 19, 2005
  6. ↑ "John Ruiz' manager Norman Stone retires", Boxing Press, December 22, 2005
  7. ↑ Archived March 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "John Ruiz retires | Boxing News". Fightnews. 2010-04-26. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  9. ↑ McGrain, Matt (June 20, 2014). "The 100 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time Part Two: 90-81" Archived 2017-03-11 at the Wayback Machine . boxing.com. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
James Oyebola 		WBC International
heavyweight champion
June 16, 1995 – March 15, 1996		Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Tony Tucker 		NABF heavyweight champion
January 14, 1997 – January 1999
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Michael Grant
Vacant
Title last held by
Francois Botha 		WBA–NABA heavyweight champion
September 19, 1998 – May 1999
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Derrick Jefferson
Vacant
Title last held by
Derrick Jefferson 		WBA–NABA heavyweight champion
June 12, 1999 – August 12, 2000
Failed to win world title		Vacant
Title next held by
Nate Jones
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBA heavyweight champion
March 3, 2001 – March 1, 2003 		Succeeded by
New title WBA heavyweight champion
Interim title
December 13, 2003 – February 24, 2004
Promoted		Vacant
Title next held by
Luis Ortiz
Preceded by
Roy Jones Jr.
as champion in recess		 WBA heavyweight champion
February 24, 2004 – December 17, 2005 		Succeeded by
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