JOHN "THE QUIETMAN" RUIZ

Team Ruiz responds to King’s false press releases

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 23, 2009) – Team Ruiz has responded to false allegations made in two press releases by promoter Don King, who erroneously stated that, “John Ruiz is my fighter,” as well as falsely claiming the World Boxing Association (WBA) had sanctioned an “Interim” title fight between one of King’s fighters, Kali Meehan, and former champion Ruslan Chagaev.

Ruiz’ contract with Don King Productions (DKP) expired last month, prior to his Nov. 7 fight against Adnan Serin, legally allowing Ruiz to become a promotional free agent.

Team Ruiz believes King’s actions are out of desperation because he has lost his influence with all of the major boxing organizations and broadcast outlets as well as many of his fighters leaving or trying to leave him. Plus, Team Ruiz contends that King is seeking retribution against Team Ruiz for its successful blocking of King’s bid at the recent WBA convention in Colombia to create an “Interim” title fight involving one of his fighters. King also failed to have Chagaev, promoted by a different company, dropped in the WBA ratings behind three other King-promoted heavyweights.

Team Ruiz also asserts that King misled and lied to WBA directors at the convention by falsely claiming Haye would not fight Ruiz and was set to relinquish the WBA belt to fight one of the Klitschko brothers. (More)

John Ruiz celebrates win and waits for David Haye title fight

After knocking out Adnan Serin in Germany (Nov. 7), 2-time World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John "The Quietman" Ruiz returned home to Las Vegas, where he's shown in this photo celebrating in his game room smoking one of his favorite cigars, Padron Serie 1926 80th Anniversary. Ruiz, the first and only world heavyweight champion of Latino heritage, has a mandated WBA title fight against new champ David Haye next year. It will mark Ruiz' 12th world title fight.

LAS VEGAS (November 17, 2009) – Two-time World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz is a promotional free agent for the first time this century as he looks ahead to his 12^th world title fight, mandated by the WBA, next year against new champion David “Hayemaker” Haye.

“It feels great to be free,” Ruiz said, “especially with another world title shot coming next year. I’m looking for a promoter who will stand behind me and have full confidence in me.”

November 17, 2009

Dear John,

I hope you and your
family are all doing well. I’ve been meaning to send you signed gloves. I appreciate all your help with my Championship belts. These gloves were used for the training camp for my Ruiz vs Serin fight in Germany on November 7, 2009. I won in the 7th round by TKO. I will now be facing Hayes next year for a Championship fight. It’s nice to see when I pass my game room that I can see my original WBA Championship belts on display. I could never repay you. I hope you accept these signed gloves as a small gesture of my gratitude. Next time I’m in town we’ll have to get together and catch up.

Thank You, John Ruiz

What They’re Saying about “The Quietman”…..

“Ruiz is a good fighter, very under-rated. He’s not the most entertaining of former champions but he’s won championships on several occasions and you don’t do that through being a bad fighter.

“He’s not brilliant at any one thing but he’s
good at everything. He’s a lot better than people think,. Because of his awkward style people look at him not as a threat but as an annoyance, but he won the heavyweight championship twice so he must be doing something right….The toughest fight of my life will be John Ruiz.”

David Haye, WBA Heavyweight Champion

“However, I have my doubts that Haye will ever get a shot at the Klitschko brothers, because I see him losing to Ruiz next year. Haye won’t be able to pot shotting him 10 shots per rounds, because Ruiz is capable of landing a lot more than 10 punches per round. He also isn’t afraid to mix it up and take a shot. Ruiz likes to stay close where he will be able to neutralize Haye’s power and take advantage of his own by clobbering Haye with uppercuts.
Many people still se Ruiz as a punch and clinch fighter. He’s changed his style a lot in the past couple of years and is now much more of a puncher than he used to be…..he is much more entertaining than he used to be.
“Ruiz is very effective at getting his shots off before he’s hit. His jab is excellent and we saw how vulnerable Haye was at getting hit with jabs in his fights against Monte Barrett and Valuev. Haye may run a lot and stay outside but he’s no good at avoiding the jab. This is why I see Ruiz and, of course, the Klitschko brothers, beating Haye.
“I think Haye needs to forget about the huge money that he’ll make against the Klitschko brothers and focus more on the Ruiz fight. I think Haye is hugely under estimating Ruiz an seeing him as a Valuev or Maccarinelli type opponent instead of a live threat that could beat him.”

Ron Borges, Boston Herald

“I really see Haye as a one hit wonder and I’m not talking about his power. I mean I see him lasting as a champion about one fight. Haye faces John Ruiz next in 2010, and I think Ruiz will beat him by knockout….I don’t think Haye’s weak chin would be able to take Ruiz’s hard uppercuts and I see Haye lasting six or seven rounds before being taken out by the former champion Ruiz….I see him losing badly to Ruiz.” (More)

Ruiz still clear & present danger
in heavyweight division
“The Quietman” new free agent agent

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 10, 2009) – Two-time World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz is on a mission to bring the world heavyweight title back to the United States next year and share the championship belt with his Latino fans once again.

WBA No. 1 contender Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KOs), who had agreed with promoters of last Saturday’s championship bout -- defending champion Nicolai Valuev and challenger David “Hayemaker” Haye -- to “step aside” as the WBA “Official Challenger," earned his 12th world title shot against new WBA champion Haye (guaranteed by the end of May, 2010) with his seventh-round stoppage of Adnan Serin in the seventh round of their co-feature match.

Fighting for the first time in 14 months, as well as with a new head trainer in Miguel Diaz, the 37-year-old Ruiz weighed in at 226 pounds, his lightest in six years. Now a promotional free agent since his contract with Don King recently expired, “The Quietman” was more mentally and physically prepared for last weekend’s fight than he’s been since capturing his first WBA crown in 2001 against Evander Holyfield.

Ruiz also displayed a much more fan-friendly style against Serin – no holding, clutching or holding -- and he’s confident of winning his third world title next year against Haye because of his experience advantage and genuine toughness. (More)

Chris Arreola is the latest over-hyped American heavyweight to fall short of all the hype provided by the networks and bought into by that the media and fans alike.

Arreola is a knockout artist with a
great story, trying to become the first world heavyweight champion of Mexican decent, and the second Latino to be the world heavyweight title holder.

It was a tremendous thrill for me to become the first - and still the only -- world heavyweight champion of Latino decent. I’m honored to be the first because I’m so proud of my Puerto Rican-American heritage.

It’s too bad Arreola was pushed so fast. He wasn’t ready, nor did he do anything deserving to be in a title fight against Vitali Klitschko. You have to get inside to beat Klitschko and Chris never got close. Unfortunately, he was nothing more than a punching bag on national television. (More)

WATCH RUIZ ON CNN
Pionero: John “The Quiet Man” Ruiz
When heavyweight boxer John “The Quiet Man” Ruiz defeated defending champ Evander Holyfield in 2001, he became the first Hispanic to hold the WBA title. CNN’s Don Lemon spoke with Ruiz about what it means to be a Latino pioneer. (Watch video)

On the road towards my dream of becoming world heavyweight champion, I’m looking in the rearview mirror, seeing the loss of contact I’ve had with some friends and family.

I look to my right and left, but the windows are darkened. My hand-picked team has controlled me, isolating me from family and friends who were trying to reach out to me.

Now, though, I’m able to see much more clearly because my mother, Gladys, brothers – Eddie and Robert -- and sister, Jackie, became involved in my boxing career and covered my back. I’m so thankful that they stuck with me despite others trying to push them away. They woke me up. I was in sleep mode, focusing on just winning the title, but my family opened my eyes to what was going on. They all warned me about what they had heard and seen; how I had been manipulated by others who were supposed to be looking out for my best interests.

I’m able to see past the blocked view, no longer controlled by outside sources that pushed away everyone close to me. Today, I am my own person, happy with my life. (More)