John Ruiz boxer

John Ruiz boxer
bouts
55
won
44
lost
9
draw
1
Status
inactive
Division
heavyweight
Debut
1992-08-20
Height
6′ 2″/188cm
Reach
78″/198cm
Age
-
Born
1972-01-04
Death
-
Nationality
USA

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.His professional record is 44–9–1–1, with 30 knockouts. 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). Ruiz un-retired in 10 days, after finding out that James Toney had tested positive for anabolic steroids. The official outcome, a unanimous-decision defeat, was changed to a no-contest; the WBA ordered that Ruiz retain the title. 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).On December 17, 2005, he lost his title for the first time—in controversial fashion—to Nikolai Valuev. Ruiz lost a rematch for the vacant WBA Heavyweight title with Valuev on August 30, 2008, once again in controversial fashion.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 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.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
2010-04-03 David Haye WWWWWW M.E.N. Arena, Manchester LOST
Technical knockout
2009-11-07 Adnan Serin WLWDLL Arena Nürnberger Versicherung, Nuremberg (Nürnberg) WIN
Technical knockout
2008-08-30 Nikolay Valuev WWWLWW Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg LOST
Unanimous decision
2008-03-08 Jameel McCline WWWWLL Plaza de Toros, Cancun WIN
Unanimous decision
2007-10-13 Otis Tisdale LLLWWW Sears Centre, Hoffman Estates WIN
Technical knockout
2006-11-18 Ruslan Chagaev WWWWWW Burg-Waechter Castello, Düsseldorf LOST
Split-decision
2005-12-17 Nikolay Valuev WWWWWW Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg LOST
Majority decision
2005-04-30 James Toney WWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York NC
2004-11-13 Andrew Golota WWWWD Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Unanimous decision
2004-04-17 Fres Oquendo WWLWWL Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Technical knockout
2003-12-13 Hasim Rahman WWWLLD Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City WIN
Unanimous decision
2003-03-01 Roy Jones Jr WWWWWW Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas LOST
Unanimous decision
2002-07-27 Kirk Johnson WWWWWW Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas WIN
2001-12-15 Evander Holyfield WWDLWL Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket DRAW
Split-decision
2001-03-03 Evander Holyfield WWWDLW Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas WIN
Unanimous decision
2000-08-12 Evander Holyfield WWWWDL Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas LOST
Unanimous decision
1999-12-11 Thomas Williams WWWWWW Grand Casino, Tunica WIN
Technical knockout
1999-06-12 Fernely Feliz WWWWWW Shriner's Auditorium, Wilmington WIN
Technical knockout
1999-03-13 Mario Cawley WWWWWL Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Technical knockout
1998-09-19 Jerry Ballard WWWWWD Georgia Dome, Atlanta WIN
Technical knockout
1998-01-31 Tony Tucker LWWLWW Ice Palace, Tampa WIN
Technical knockout
1997-06-17 Ray Anis WWWWLW Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis WIN
Technical knockout
1997-01-14 James Thunder LWWWWW Hale Arena, Kansas City WIN
Split-decision
1996-11-26 Yuri Yelistratov WWWLLL York Hall, Bethnal Green WIN
Corner retirement
1996-10-25 Nathaniel Fitch LWLLWL The Roxy, Boston WIN
Technical knockout
1996-07-18 Greg Pickrom LWWWWW The Roxy, Boston WIN
Technical knockout
1996-06-06 Doug Davis LLLLLL The Roxy, Boston WIN
Technical knockout
1996-03-15 David Tua WWWWWW Convention Center, Atlantic City LOST
KO
1995-10-07 Steve Pannell WWWLWW Convention Center, Atlantic City WIN
Technical knockout
1995-08-24 Willie Jackson WWLWLL Somerville WIN
KO
1995-06-16 Derrick Roddy LWLWL Elephant & Castle Centre, Southwark WIN
KO
1995-05-17 Michael Murray LWLLLW Ipswich WIN
Technical knockout
1995-03-30 Jack Basting LWLLLW York Hall, Bethnal Green WIN
Technical knockout
1995-02-04 Boris Powell WWWWWW Silver Nugget, North Las Vegas WIN
Unanimous decision
1994-10-01 Rick Sullivan WLWLLW The Roxy, Boston WIN
KO
1994-08-04 Danell Nicholson LWWWWW Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket LOST
Split-decision
1994-06-25 Muhammad Askia LLLLLL Revere WIN
Technical knockout
1994-05-25 Julius Francis WWWWWW Colston Hall, Bristol WIN
KO
1993-11-27 Carl Williams WWLLLW Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland WIN
Points
1993-11-03 Cordwell Hylton WLLLDL Whitchurch Sports Centre, Bristol WIN
Points
1993-08-12 Sergey Kobozev WWWWWW Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis LOST
Split-decision
1993-06-25 Exum Speight LLLLLW Chelsea Armory, Chelsea WIN
Unanimous decision
1993-04-30 George Chambers debut National Guard Armory, Chelsea WIN
KO
1993-04-16 Mark Sonnier WLWWL Cyclorama Building, Boston WIN
Technical knockout
1993-04-03 Juan Quintana DLLLWL Somerville WIN
Points
1993-03-20 Lorenzo Poole LLL Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere WIN
Technical knockout
1993-03-05 Derrick Jones debut Whitman Armory, Whitman WIN
Technical knockout
1993-02-20 Phil Prince LLLWLL Suffolk Downs, Boston WIN
Technical knockout
1993-01-30 Miguel Rosa LLLLLL National Guard Armory, Chelsea WIN
Technical knockout
1993-01-16 John Basil Jackson LLLLLL Belmont WIN
Points
1992-12-10 Jesus Rohena LLLLLW Teachers Union Hall, Boston WIN
Technical knockout
1992-11-13 John Basil Jackson LLLLLL Wonderland Ballroom, Revere WIN
Unanimous decision
1992-11-03 Barry Kirton WWLWLL Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket WIN
Technical knockout
1992-09-12 Mike Vasser debut Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere WIN
KO
1992-08-20 Kevin Parker WDW Taj Majal Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City WIN
Unanimous decision