LAS VEGAS (Apr. 26, 2010) – After a professional career spanning 18 years, highlighted by becoming the first and only Heavyweight World Champion of Latino heritage, two-time world champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz today announced his retirement from the ring. Ruiz (44-9-1, 30 KOs) defeated three world champions – Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker – as well as top contenders such as Andrew Golota, Fres Oquendo, Jameel McCline and Kirk Johnson. Six of John’s nine career losses were to world champions..
“I’ve had a great career but it’s time for me to turn the page and start a new chapter of my life,” Ruiz said. “It’s sad that my final fight didn’t work out the way I wanted, but, hey, that’s boxing. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished with two world titles, 12 championship fights, and being the first Latino Heavyweight Champion of the World. I fought anybody who got in the ring with me and never ducked anyone. Now, I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family.
“I want to thank all of fans for staying in my corner through a long, up-and-down ride, as well as members of my family and team – my manager and legal advisor, Atty. Tony Cardinale, my brother, Eddie (cornerman), and Keith McGrath (strength-and conditioning coach) who’ve been with me so long. I also want to thank my trainer Miguel Diaz and (assistant) Richie Sandoval for teaching an old dog, new tricks, and my promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, the fairest promoter in boxing.
“I was proud to be the WBA champion twice and have the opportunity to fight 12 times for the WBA championship, the oldest and most respected organization in boxing. I’d particularly like to thank WBA President Gilberto Mendoza.”
Ruiz plans to move from Las Vegas back home to the Boston area this year and open a boxing gym in the inner city. “With my experiences in boxing,” he explained, “I want to go home and open a gym where kids will have a place to go, keeping them off of the streets, so they can learn how to box and build character. Someday, I’d like to see one of them go on to represent the United States in the Olympics. I want them to have the same opportunity to see the world that I had as an amateur. I’ve always tried to be involved in community and charity work in the past and now I’ll have more time to work with kids.
“Maybe, someday I’ll get into training, but right now I just want to spend time with my wife, Maribelle, and my children. I wasn’t around as much as I would have liked for my two oldest children, John and Jocelyn, because I was away training or fighting. Now, I’ll be around for them and my 3-year-old son, Joaquin, as he grows up. I’m going back to my roots in Massachusetts, where a lot of my family and friends live, and look forward to helping young boxers avoid some of the bad things that I experienced in the sport but help them to experience the good times, too. Boxing is brutal but also beautiful. As I look back, I’m happy about my career, and my future is very bright.”
PUBLIC INVITED TO NEWS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING TITLE CLASH BETWEEN WORLD CHAMPIONS TIMOTHY BRADLEY and MARCOS MAIDANA
NEXT TUESDAY! MAY 4 at NOON AGUA CALIENTE in RANCHO MIRAGE
RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. (April 26, 2010) – Undefeated World Boxing Organization junior welterweight champion TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY and World Boxing Association interim super lightweight champion MARCOS “El Chino” MAIDANA will host a news conference, open to the public, Next Tuesday! May 4, in The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa to announce their World Championship rumble. Bradley and Maidana will be joined by their respective promoters, president of Gary Shaw Productions Gary Shaw, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer, President of Thompson Boxing Promotions Ken Thompson and Dietmar Powza of Universum Box Promotions.
Boasting a combined record of 53-1 (38 KOs), Bradley and Maidana will take to the ring on Saturday, July 17 in The Show at Agua Caliente in a bout that will be televised live on HBO’s Boxing After Dark and is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Thompson Boxing Promotions and Maidana’s German Promoter Universum Box Promotions. Tickets for Bradley vs. Maidana, priced at $200, $175, $150, $100 and $50, go on sale Saturday, May 8, and will be available for purchase at www.HotWaterCasino.com/TheShow.
Unbeaten prospect Edwin Rodriguez Moving Up Super Middleweight Ladder
WORCESTER, Mass. (Apr. 26, 2010) – Hot, unbeaten super middleweight prospect Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez, coming off of his nationally televised destruction of veteran George “The Rooster” Armenta with a lethal left hook to the body at 47 seconds of the opening round, takes another progressive step April 30, when he takes on rugged Kevin Engel in an 8-round bout April 30 on “The Next Generation of Super Middleweights, live from UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
The show will be presented by Rodriguez’ promoter, DiBella Entertainment, along with Warriors Boxing and 8 Count Productions, airing on “SHOBOX: The Next Generation” at 11 PM/ET.
One of the most promising under-25 prospects in the world, the 24-year-old Dominican Republic native Rodriguez (14-0, 10 KOs), fighting out of Worcester (MA), is already rated No. 12 by the NABO and No. 14 by the NABF.
Rodriguez, the 2005 USA Boxing National Championships and 2006 U.S. National Golden Gloves Tournament gold medalist, remains a relatively unassuming boxer despite drawing raves from the media and public for his past few performances.
“I have to stay grounded and keep working hard to become the fighter I want to be – world champion,” Rodriguez said. “Whether I’m fighting on national TV or not, I go in the ring and shoot for my best performance. I’m working just as hard for this fight as I was for my last fight. I need to keep improving each fight. I’m honored to be part of ‘The Next Generation of Super Middleweights,’ but I remain level-headed and work very hard in the gym.”
Engel (17-2) arguably represents Rodriguez’ toughest opponent to date, something that Edwin has faced fight-by-fight on a regular basis in order to improve. The knockout artist from St. Louis fighter, who has stopped 14 of 17 victims, has fought mostly as a light heavyweight, winning the World Boxing Foundation title in 2007.
“I know he is a kick-boxer; an athlete with a good right hand,” Rodriguez noted. “I’ll be working to stay away from his right. Every fight I try and make a statement and this fight I want to prove to everyone that, my last fight was an impressive performance, not a fluke. I’ve been working hard in the gym and will get the job done. I’m ready.”
Rodriguez is managed by Elite Management (Larry Army) and trained by Peter Manfredo, Sr. Go online to www.edwinrodriguezboxing.com for more information about Edwin Rodriguez.