Rafael Ruelas

Last updated
Rafael Ruelas
Born (1971-04-26) 26 April 1971 (age 53)
Yerbabuena, Jalisco,
Mexico
NationalityMexican
American
Statistics
Weight(s) Featherweight
Lightweight
Super lightweight
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Reach71 in (180 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights57
Wins53
Wins by KO41
Losses4

Rafael Ruelas (born 26 April 1971) is a Mexican real estate agent in Granada Hills, California. He was a professional boxer who held the IBF lightweight world championship from 1994 until 1995. Rafael is the younger brother of former WBC super featherweight champion Gabriel Ruelas. The brothers held their respective world titles concurrently and on January 28, 1995, they became the first pair of brothers to successfully retain their title on the same boxing card. [1]

Contents

Professional career

Shortly after a TKO in 10 over Jorge Páez in 1992, Ruelas earned a shot at IBF lightweight title Freddie Pendleton, overcoming an early knockdown and winning by unanimous decision.

Ruelas was able to successfully defend his title prior to being challenged by the rapidly rising star Oscar De La Hoya. De la Hoya, despite having lost to Ruelas twice in golden gloves, defeated Ruelas, knocking him down twice and ending the fight in the second round. [2]

Ruelas's career and success were driven by a tenacious, aggressive, and disciplined character. Ruelas retired in 1999 and went on to marry American beauty product business owner, Sabrina Ruelas. The couple have three children together. In an interview, Ruelas was quoted as saying that his wife and family are his biggest accomplishments, surpassing even his championship belts. Ruelas serves as a real estate agent in Granada Hills.

Professional boxing record

57 fights53 wins4 losses
By knockout413
By decision111
By disqualification10
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
57Win53–4Hicklet LauSD10Aug 8, 1999New Frontier Hotel, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
56Loss52–4 Kostya Tszyu TKO9 (12)Aug 15, 1998County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
55Win52–3Juan BaldwinRTD5 (10)Jun 19, 1998Trump Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
54Win51–3Tim ScottTKO2 (?)Mar 21, 1998Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany
53Win50–3Rodney WilsonTKO7 (10)Nov 14, 1997South Padre Island, Texas, U.S.
52Win49–3Mike GriffithTKO2 (10)Jul 19, 1997Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
51Win48–3Jesus ArceTKO2 (10)Jan 23, 1997Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
50Win47–3Jaime BalboaKO5 (10)Dec 3, 1996Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
49Win46–3 Livingstone Bramble UD10Aug 23, 1996Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
48Win45–3Mike WalshKO2 (10)Jul 10, 1996Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
47Win44–3 Tomas Barrientes KO2 (10)Apr 30, 1996San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
46Loss43–3 George Scott UD12Oct 7, 1995Atlantis Resorts and Casino, Paradise Island, BahamasFor vacant WBU lightweight title
45Loss43–2 Oscar De La Hoya TKO2 (12) May 6, 1995 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost IBF lightweight title;
For WBO lightweight title
44Win43–1 Billy Schwer RTD8 (12)Jan 28, 1995MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF lightweight title
43Win42–1Omar PachecoKO3 (10)Dec 8, 1994Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
42Win41–1 Mike Evgen TKO3 (12) May 27, 1994 MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF lightweight title
41Win40–1 Freddie Pendleton UD12Feb 19, 1994Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won IBF lightweight title
40Win39–1Manuel HernandezKO1 (8)Oct 22, 1993Boise State Pavilion, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
39Win38–1Conrado LopezKO1 (10)Aug 19, 1993Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
38Win37–1 Darryl Tyson UD10Jul 17, 1993Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
37Win36–1Robert RiveraTKO3 (12)Feb 23, 1993Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.Retained NABF lightweight title; title match despite Rivera being 4lbs overweight
36Win35–1Roberto BurgosKO1 (10)Jan 19, 1993Boise Center, Boise, Idaho, U.S.Won vacant NABF lightweight title
35Win34–1 Jorge Páez RTD10 (12)Nov 6, 1992Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won vacant NABF lightweight title
34Win33–1Benny DominguezKO1 (10)Aug 25, 1992Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
33Win32–1Mauro GutierrezUD10Jul 7, 1992Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
32Win31–1Francisco OrtizTKO2 (10)May 26, 1992Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
31Win30–1Francisco LopezTKO1 (8)Apr 3, 1992Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
30Win29–1 Rocky Lockridge UD10Jan 30, 1992Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
29Win28–1Juan De La PazTKO2 (10)Nov 26, 1991Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
28Loss27–1Mauro GutierrezKO2 (12)Jul 31, 1991Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.For vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title
27Win27–0Narciso Valenzuela RomoUD10Jun 25, 1991Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
26Win26–0Fernando Soldadito TeranKO1 (10)May 17, 1991Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
25Win25–0 Steve Cruz KO3 (12)Mar 31, 1991Sands Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant NABF featherweight title
24Win24–0Vicente GonzalezUD10Feb 26, 1991Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
23Win23–0Tomas ValdezTKO3 (12)Jan 14, 1991Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won vacant IBF American featherweight title
22Win22–0Richard AbilaKO7 (12)Nov 27, 1990Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.Won vacant USA California State featherweight title
21Win21–0Felipe de JesusTKO7 (10)Sep 22, 1990Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.
20Win20–0Job WaltersTKO9 (10)Aug 17, 1990Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
19Win19–0Rosendo AlonsoTKO1 (10)Jul 31, 1990Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
18Win18–0Abe GomezUD10Jun 18, 1990Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
17Win17–0Vicente GonzalezRTD5 (10)May 29, 1990Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
16Win16–0Arturo HernandezTKO1 (8) Apr 14, 1990 Mirage Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
15Win15–0Antonio SanchezKO2 (?)Mar 8, 1990Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
14Win14–0Roberto RiosTKO2 (8)Feb 27, 1990Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
13Win13–0Simon ContrerasKO5 (?)Feb 5, 1990Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
12Win12–0Ricardo FloresKO1 (8)Nov 28, 1989Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
11Win11–0Margarito RuizDQ1 (6)Oct 24, 1989Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
10Win10–0Jose Luis VazquezKO1 (6)Sep 26, 1989Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
9Win9–0Joey QuinlanKO1 (?)Aug 29, 1989Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
8Win8–0Ben GomezKO3 (4)Jul 14, 1989Riviera Club, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
7Win7–0Chilo GuzmanKO3 (6)Jun 27, 1989Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
6Win6–0Benito RodriguezKO3 (?)Jun 16, 1989Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.
5Win5–0Javier LaraKO3 (6)May 30, 1989Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
4Win4–0Margarito ArreolaMD4Apr 25, 1989Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
3Win3–0Leopoldo MayaTKO1 (4)Mar 28, 1989Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
2Win2–0Robert RayfordTKO3 (4)Feb 14, 1989Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1Win1–0Marcos CovarrubiasUD4Jan 17, 1989Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.

Pay-per-view bouts

DateFightBillingBuysNetwork
May 6, 1995De La Hoya vs. Ruelas La Batalla 330,000 [3] HBO

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References

  1. ↑ Brothers Ruelas a Historic Act, L.A. Times article, 1995-01-29 Retrieved on 2024-12-22
  2. ↑ Friend, Tom (7 May 1995). "De La Hoya Scores Second-Round Knockout of Ruelas". The New York Times . Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  3. ↑ Pay-Per-View History Archived 2007-06-06 at the Wayback Machine at about.com
Preceded by IBF Lightweight boxing champion
19 February 1994–6 May 1995		Succeeded by


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