RSSJohn Ruiz
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Diaz vs Diaz Post-Fight Ring Quotes
Juan Diaz (33-0, 17 KOs) “I thought Julio was going to box me more but he came to fight. That surprised me. I was able to lure him into my kind of fight, a toe to toe action fight. Julio had decent power which also surprised me.
It’s great if Pacquiao moves up to the lightweight limit of 135 pounds. I’d like to show my talents against a fighter of his skills. Pacquiao just fought an older Mexican warrior. Now he ought to fight a young Mexican warrior like me.
“Joel Casamayor wants to fight everybody. He’s an older fighter. I’d rather fight the best young fighters out there.”
Julio Diaz (34-4, 25 KOs) “I couldn’t get started tonight. Juan has a lot of energy. I tightened up when I tried to overpower him. Juan’s a hyper kid with a lot of heart.
“My brother Joel in my corner thought I was getting to hit too much, so he stopped the fight after the eighth round. It was Juan’s night tonight.”
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Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Liakhovich Clarifies Situation
WBA #2-rated former WBO Heavyweight Champion Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich (23-2, 14 KOs) and his manager, Ivaylo Gotzev, say they’re enraged at the “weak attempts” being made by former WBA Champ John Ruiz and his people to discredit Liakhovich’s hard-earned reputation.
Responding to a press release issued today, in which Ruiz’s legal advisor, attorney, Anthony Cardinale, tries to paint Liakhovich as a reluctant warrior for his refusal to face Ruiz this Saturday in Chicago, Gotzev paints a clearer picture of the situation.
The original offer, until a few days ago, was for two ex-champions to fight each other without any guarantees that it would be for any kind of improved position in the rankings. The most we could have won (by facing Ruiz) was to remain WBA number two. There was nothing to gain other than two ex-champions fighting off-TV. We are in a position in the rankings to fight for a championship soon if we don’t take any stupid offers like this one.”
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Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Toney, Batchelder Test Positive for Steroids; Suspended for One Year
James Toney and his opponent from his last bout on May 24th, Danny Batchelder, have both tested positive for steroids according to California State Athletic Commission Executive Officier Armando Garcia.
They both tested for two different types of steroids. Toney for boldendone and stanazol; Batchelder for stanazol and oxandolone.
“They have a right to appeal,” Garcia said Wednesday. “My recommendation is suspension until the end of the licensing year and a $2,500 fine for both. We will give them the 30 days to appeal. If they don’t, that’s what the suspension will be.”“We have a detailed anti-doping program in place in this state,” Garcia said. “If they come here doping, they’re going to get caught.”
Unlike the last time Toney tested positive for steroids, the outcome of his bout with Batchelder will not be changed and his split decision win will stand. Toney came up positive for nandrolone two years ago and his victory over John Ruiz was changed to a no contest.
Could this be the end for Toney? It just might be…
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Chagaev Earns Split Decision Over Ruiz, WBA Title Shot
For both, this was probably the biggest fight of their careers: One will ascend up the heavyweight rankings and have a chance at championship gold at some point next year. The other may be on his way to a path towards obscurity…
Ruslan Chagaev won a split decision victory over John Ruiz in Germany on Saturday night, earning the Uzbekistan native a shot at Nikolai Valuev and the WBA Heavyweight Title.
Even though Chagaev seemed to be the clear winner at the end of the fight, he barely squeezed out a win thanks to another judge who thought completely different than the rest. That lone wolf scored it 115-114 for the Ruiz with the other two scoring it 116-112 and 117-111 for Chagaev.
However Valuev who watched the fight at ringside knew who the true winner was…
“Chagaev won two or three rounds more than Ruiz, the win was earned,” said Valuev.
Both fighters landed their fair share of good shots throughout the fight - Chagaev stunned Ruiz with punches in the fifth and eighth rounds but Ruiz managed to keep his composure and stay on his feet.
Ruiz rocked Chagaev with an uppercut late in the 11th round but it wasn’t enough to hurt his opponent nor turn the tide in his favor.
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Friday, November 17, 2006
Who’s da Champ?
Here we go again. Sergei Liakhovich’s loss to Shannon Briggs set the division back about five years. Wladimir Klitschko’s win over Calvin Brock may have solidified his claim as today’s best heavyweight. Wlad has a great jab and is fairly mobile for a man his size. If he can keep you at the end of that jab, he has a very effective overhand right. Just ask Mr. Brock. My question is...Was Wlad that good or was Brock that bad? Three things I don’t like about Wlad. If a fighter does get inside on him, he becomes very ordinary. In his prime Riddick Bowe who was a big man could beat you on the outside or the inside. Bowe was a very good in fighter. Klitschko lacks this trait. Wladimir rarely goes to the body. This is something that Liakhovich does very well. Last but not least, his chin. Corrie Sanders and Brewster parked him and Williamson and Peter had him down. To be a great one, you’ve got to have the whiskers. I’ve always said that if Wlad had Vitali’s chin and heart, he would be something.
Briggs? I have statues at my church that move better then him. Sergei has got a lot of work ahead of him but I think he beats Briggs if there is a rematch. Sergei can improve. I think we saw the best Briggs had to offer. I admire Maskaev’s heart and he can hit but...I’ve seen too many of his fights where he got clocked. It just seems like he has Rahman’s number. Valuev? Granted he’s huge but for a man his size he doesn’t seem to generate a lot of steam on his punches. He’s very predictable too. Jab, jab, chopping right...He doesn’t deviate too much. I think Wladimir would box him silly.
The best of the rest:
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Friday, September 29, 2006
Ruiz-Chagaev Changed
It looks like John Ruiz and Ruslan Chagaev just might happen after all…
It’s only been a few days since Ruiz went to the WBA and filed a complaint against the scheduled date for his fight against Chagaev on October 28th. The organization ruled that the fight could not happen unless the two fighters came to an agreement that would allow them to fight on that day, even though Ruiz says that it falls short of the 45 day notice time period.
Now the two will lace up the gloves on November 18th. Where? Dusseldorf, Germany…
The winner of the fight will most likely be the number one contender to WBA Heavyweight Champion Nikolay Valuev’s title. I thought that Ruiz was actually the number one contender as of right now but I’m guessing not now that he has to take on Chagaev.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Ruiz Goes to Court
Former heavyweight champion John Ruiz is scheduled to fight Russlan Chagaev on October 28th. Or is he?
The WBA’s executive board ruled in favor of Ruiz’s arguement stating that the October 28th date falls short of the minimum of 45 days from the date of the purse bid. A bout is not permitted to be held before the 45 days except for granted exceptions. The fight now will not happen on that date unless both fighters can come to an agreement on the matter.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Ruiz Hires New Promoter
Former WBA Heavyweight Champion John Ruiz has hired Wilfried Sauerland as his new manager. Sauerland, who also manages a slew of other heavyweights and light-heavyweights, replaces Norman Stone who had been Ruiz’s manager since 1992. Don King will continue to be Ruiz’s main promoter.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Sultan Ibragimov Readies for John Ruiz
HOLLYWOOD, FL – Like the immortal Babe Ruth knocked home run after home run out of the park, the new “Sultan of Swat”, Sultan Ibragimov, is knocking out opponent after opponent in his quest for the Heavyweight Championship.
But finally, the unbeaten native of Rostov-na-Donu, Russia will get his chance to move closer to that dream as it was announced that a purse bid will take place on June 3rd, 2006 at noon during the IBF convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This bid will determine the day and site for the IBF elimination bout between Ibragimov (19-0, 16 KOs) and former World Champion John ‘The Quietman’ Ruiz. The winner will get a shot at newly crowned IBF Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko
“I would like to thank the IBF for this opportunity to fight for the number one contender’s position, and I would also like to thank my team of Warriors Boxing, Boris Grinberg, and Sampson Lewkowicz for their tireless efforts to put me in this position,” said Ibragimov. “Now it’s time for me to make the most of this opportunity, and I will succeed by knocking out John Ruiz and then Wladimir Klitschko to win the World Title.”