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8CN Interview with John Ruiz part 1 & 2
July 16th, 2009
Jeff Young
Two-time WBA Heavyweight Champion John Ruiz has been through a lot in his career. It has been filled with ups and downs, yet Ruiz is still regarded as one of the best heavyweights in the world and is eagerly awaiting another shot at Nikolay Valuev. Ruiz has not received word yet on that bout, but is staying active in the gym and remaining focused on whatever comes his way.
“Right now I am in the gym everyday,” states Ruiz. “ I am keeping myself in shape and mentally focused for my next fight.”
If Ruiz has his way that fight will be for the WBA title against Valuev, but no negotiations have begun at this point.
“I am going to call and see what is going on with this. It seems that they are letting Valuev dictate what is going on. I know if it was me they would have already came to a conclusion about a defense, so at this time I am just staying prepared.”
Hoping to hear something soon, but also knowing how things go in boxing Ruiz says his offer to Chris Arreola is for real and is still on the table anytime he wants to step up.
“Arreola is ranked number one by the WBC,” states Ruiz. “I do not know how that came about, but he is and I am at the top of the WBA so if he wants to put his ranking on the line against mine then we can do it. They will never let it happen though because a loss would end HBO’s promotion of him and they want him to be able to get that big money fight.”
The networks are also on Ruiz’s mind, because they are not just mere fans, spectators, or commentators in the sport.
“No they are not, they are more like promoters. The networks dictate whose going to be on and who they are willing to let them fight on the air. They want Arreola to face these inactive guys or guys coming out of retirement to make him look good so that they can boost him up farther with their announcing. It is not right to the fans because new fans come to boxing everyday and they are being brainwashed by these networks on who is at the top of the divisions, but once they get to the top and have to finally face a real guy like the Klitschko’s (whom Ruiz referred to as the Golden Boys, giving them a little more credit than calling them Golden Girls) then it is not a contest.”
Ruiz went on, “That is why I want to fight Arreola. Number one vs number one to see who gets the fight. If his people would let him take it then the world will then know that he is not the future and that he is not that good.”
“I do not think it will happen, like I said HBO and his people know what they want out of him and they know that he is not good enough to be put in like that. I see that he is going to face Maskaev, but what has Maskaev done in the last year or so. He is exactly what they want, a old guy or a retired guy that he will look good against.”
PART 2
As John Ruiz prepares for an upcoming title shot at WBA Champion Nikolay Valuev one thing that he plans to do is to take the fight out of the judges’ hands. Ruiz knows that he has to do this because in three fights in Germany he has lost by split decision or majority decision.
“I have to find a way to get a decision in Germany,” states Ruiz. “ I feel like I have won them all, but I cannot get a decision. I bet I could knock Valuev down once a round and still lose by split decision. My plan is that I have to take it out of the judges hands by either being so dominant or putting him out. That is what it is going to take.”
Ruiz knows that his time in the sport is growing short and there are still a few goals he would like to accomplish before his career is over.
“Of course my number one goal is to win another world title, and then after that I would love to get the chance to defend it in both Massachuset and in Puerto Rico. I have always wanted to do that, and I have came close but things fell through with the state commission, but if it does not happen I will not be disappointed because I am going to be 38 and I do not see myself going into my 40's. I have had a great career.”
That career should be considered as one of the best considering where Ruiz came from. There may not be one fighter out there that has been counted out as many times as Ruiz has, yet he always pulls himself up.
“You know when I look back,” states Ruiz, “I am thankful for the David Tua fight. I mean I know that sounds strange because of what happened but that fight showed me that you have to be serious in this sport or you are not going to make. That fight woke me up.”
Ruiz should be given credit for that, because there are a lot of boxers that have suffered the same fate and never fought again. They gave up, but not Ruiz. Ruiz ran off 11 straight victories including 10 by knockout. Then he went to a draw with Evander Holyfield followed by a loss and then a win in the third fight for the WBA title.
“I have been counted out many times, but I always pull myself up. I get criticized constantly. I mean since the Tua fight all of my loses have been close and even controversial decisions. But I still come through.”
Those criticisms could weigh heavily on a fighter that does not have the make up of Ruiz. Constantly criticized for holding, Ruiz changed his style to make some exciting fights, but even then it was not good enough, he was criticized for doing that.
“Sometimes I feel that I am damned if I do and damned if I don’t so I just go out there and give it my best. That is all I can do. I tell people all the time that I have had to come up the hard way in boxing and I should not have to tell people that. It used to be that you got rewarded for fighting, now it is whose hand you shake, whose butt you kiss, or if you can run your mouth the best. How you do in the fight is secondary it seems.”
“Right now I am taking it one fight at a time and then we will see what comes about, but I have a great life. I am able to do things that I love to do like working with my favorite charities and I get to go to schools and talk to young people to try to help them in their lives. It is great. I can look back on everything and be proud of what I have accomplished. No matter what comes in the future I have had a great career.”
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