John Ruiz will be in the 12th title fight of a career that has spanned nearly 18 years when he enters the ring on Saturday night opposite WBA heavyweight champion, David Haye, of England before Haye's partisan, British fans at M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester.
A 38-year-old resident of Chelsea, Mass., Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 knockouts) will be attempting to win a crown for the third time when he faces the 29-year-old Haye (23-1, 21 KOs), a feat accomplished by men such as Lennox Lewis and Muhammad Ali
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.Evander Holyfield is the sport's lone four-time heavyweight champion.
"It is going to work this time," said Ruiz. "No matter what they say, they can't take it away from me.""I've fought here six times. These fans put favoritism behind them and root for a good fight. I've fought everybody in the world, never avoiding anybody," said Ruiz. "I'm very proud of that. I've traveled the world, and boxing has been a savior for me."
There was a unanimous decision over Cordell Hylton in November of 1993, followed by a fourth-round knockout of Julius Francis in May of '94.
In '95, Ruiz scored respective stoppages of Jack Basting, Michael Murray, and, Derrick Roddy, in one, four, and two rounds, and there was his third-round knockout of Yuri Yelistratov in November of '96.
The brash, and, trash-talking Haye is immensely popular in England.
"[Haye] still isn't well known in the United States. [His popularity] is still in the beginning. His name is spreading around, but he needs to face somebody who's been in the heavyweight division, and that's me," said Ruiz.
"He can talk all he wants, but he knows he's in a tough fight. I don't focus on the other fighter, I focus on myself," said Ruiz. "Experience plays an important part, but so does youth. He's going to prepare himself and use the style he believes will win the fight. We'll see what comes out on top."
Being of Puerto Rican decent, Ruiz is the only Latino to have won a heavyweight title. Ruiz is also among the last four Americans to have held a version of the heavyweight belt, dethroning Holyfield for that honor.
In June of 2007, Shannon Briggs was briefly the WBO champion, this, two years after Ruiz was WBA king in 2005. In 2006, Hasim Rahman and Chris Byrd, respectively, were titlists with the WBC, and, IBF.
Haye recently dethroned Russia's seven foot Nicolay Valuev to earn the WBA crown, and 38-year-old Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), holds the WBC belt.
Klitschko's 33-year-old brother, Wladimir Klitschko (53-3, 47 knockouts), is the IBF and WBO champion. The younger Klitschko is riding a streak of 12-0, with nine knockouts -- including stoppages in his past four bouts -- since a fifth-round knockout loss to Lamon Brewster in April of 2004.
"I was born in the United States and my family is Puerto Rican. I'm a Puerto Rican-American. I've accomplished a lot during my career," said Ruiz. "I am the first Hispanic world heavyweight champion. But I'm an American, and I'm bringing the belt back home."
Ruiz brings a new enthusiasm into his match up with Haye, who became the first former cruiser weight (200 pounds) since Holyfield to win a heavyweight title.
Long maligned for what was often described as a boring, if not effective, "Jab-and-Grab" style, Ruiz claims to be more versatile under new head trainer, Miguel Diaz.
"I have a new team of trainers Miguel Diaz, and, Richie Sandoval. And I have a new promoter, Golden Boy [Promotions.] But there are still some people who've been part of the team for a long time," said Ruiz.
"You're seeing more of the Ruiz from the past -- boxing and punching, not holding," said Ruiz. "How many guys can say they have fought and won the two world heavyweight championships? I'm at peace, blessed with my family, and I've never been in tune with boxing like this during my career."
Ruiz's is a career that has risen up and down so many times, as if like a a yo-yo. Better yet, he has often rebounded like a rubber ball that has been slammed against a wall yet continues to return.
There were split-decision losses in his 15th, and, 20th professional bouts to Sergei Kobozev, and, Danell Nicholson, respectively, in August of '93, and, August of '94.
There was Ruiz's 19-second, first-round stoppage loss to David Tua in his 28th professional fight in March of '96.
Ruiz dropped an August of 2000, unanimous decision to Holyfield for the vacant WBA heavyweight title, only to reverse that verdict in March of 2001, and then, to retain the title six months later with a draw opposite Holyfield.
After one defense, however, Ruiz lost the crown in March of 2003, when Roy Jones rose from light heavyweight (175 pounds) to dethrone him as WBA king.
There would be yet another comeback for Ruiz, however, nine months later in his very next fight, when he regained the WBA title by unanimous decision over former world champion Rahman, a former Lennox Lewis-conqueror.
Ruiz defended that crown twice, the second time, in November of 2004, literally having to rise from the canvas two times before claiming a unanimous decision over Andrew Golota.
But misfortune would befall Ruiz, yet again, in his very next bout -- an October, 2005 loss to James Toney, who was subsequently stripped of the crown after testing positive for steroids.
Ruiz lost twice more in WBA title bouts to the seven-foot, 300-plus pound Valuev, respectively, by majority, and, unanimous decision, in December of 2005, and, August of 2008.
It matters not to Ruiz that, in defeating Valuev, Haye accomplished what neither he nor Holyfield could.
"I was surprised that [David Haye] got a decision [over Valuev] in Germany. Luck was on his side. I congratulate him. He did what he had to do and got the win. Holyfield's a legend. I can't compare them today," said Ruiz of Holyfield, loser of a December, 2008, majority decision to Valuev.
Every fight is difficult because everybody comes to win. That's what makes boxing special," said Ruiz. "But we're still here, and, hopefully this time around, we'll get a win."
Source: news.google.com
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