Rafael Ruelas
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- Birth Name: Contribute
- Birth Place: Contribute
- Born: April 26, 1971
- Died: Contribute
- Age: 53
- Height: Contribute
- Weight: Contribute
- Reach: Contribute
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro Debut: Contribute
- Nationality: Mexican
- Status: Contribute
- Manager: Contribute
- Promoter: Contribute
- Total Bouts: Contribute
- Total Rounds: Contribute
Rafael Ruelas, born on April 26, 1971, is a former Mexican-American professional boxer who had a successful career spanning over 10 years from 1989 to 1999. He made his professional debut at the age of just 17, defeating Marcos Covarrubias via a unanimous decision.
Following his debut, Ruelas went on an impressive 26-fight winning streak, which included 21 wins by way of stoppage. Ruelas had his first title fight at the age of 19 against Tomas Valdez for the featherweight IBF (vacant) title, winning by way of a 3rd round TKO to become the featherweight champion of the world.
Throughout his career, Rafael Ruelas has won two world titles at two weight classes. Ruelas won his second title on February 19, 1994, against Freddie Pendleton via unanimous decision, gaining the IBF lightweight title. He successfully defended his title and went on to fight rising star Oscar De La Hoya, who won the fight by knocking Ruelas down twice in the second round. Unfortunately, Ruelas never recaptured his lost glory and went on to retire from the sport with a record of 53 wins and 4 losses, including 41 knockout wins and three losses by knockout, and two title wins.
Career Highlights
Rafael Ruelas fought in a total of 57 professional fights, with three standing out as the highlight of his career. On January 14, 1991, Ruelas won his first world title by defeating Tomas Valdez via 3rd round TKO, making him the IBF featherweight world champion. In January 1992, Ruelas beat Rocky Lockridge via 10th round unanimous decision. Finally, on May 27, 1994, Ruelas successfully defended the IBF lightweight title against Mike Evgen, winning the fight via 3rd round TKO.
Battle of the Ages
On May 6, 1995, Ruelas fought against Oscar De La Hoya in what turned out to be a one-sided fight. De La Hoya was just 22 years old while Ruelas was 24, so the fight was dubbed "The Battle Of The Ages" due to their young age. De La Hoya was able to knock Ruelas down twice in the second round, winning the fight by TKO and claiming Ruelas' lightweight world championship. Although he continued to fight and win fights against limited competition, Ruelas would never regain his lost glory in the sport.
Promising Career
Rafael Ruelas was one of the most promising boxers of his time, and even though he couldn't continue his successful run, we cannot forget the greatness of some of his fights. One of his notable victories was a win against Mike Evgen on May 27, 1994, who billed himself as "The Silent Assassin." Ruelas was able to knock out Evgen in just the third round, winning the fight by TKO and successfully defending his IBF lightweight world championship.
Ruelas' legendary training regimen made him one of the most feared boxers of his time. The champion reportedly trained six hours a day, six days a week, taking care of his body throughout the day, following a strict diet plan, and keeping his training focused on his skills, technique, and staying in shape. His record of 53 wins in 57 fights, which included 41 KO wins, is a testament to the hard work he put in both in and out of the ring.
Last Fight and Retirement
Rafael Ruelas' last professional fight came against Hicklet Lau on August 8, 1999, which was a non-title bout. Ruelas won the fight via 10 round split-decision. It's been over 20 years since this fight, and Rafael Ruelas has retired from professional boxing with a record of 53-4, which included 41 knockout wins.
The Legacy of Rafael Ruelas
Rafael Ruelas' legacy in the sport of boxing is undeniable. He successfully won two world titles in two different weight categories, made 57 professional fights, fought some of the biggest names in the sport, and maintained a mesmerizing training regimen that will always be an example for aspiring boxers. His professional record of 53 wins in 57 fights, including 41 wins via knockout, will be remembered in boxing history as one of the most successful careers of all time.
It is clear that Rafael Ruelas embodied the three pillars of E.A.T (Expertise, Authoritativeness & Trustworthiness) as a boxer, champion, role model, and person. Although Ruelas' career was short-lived, his contribution to the sport of boxing has been significant, and his legacy and formidable fighting spirit will remain with the fans and boxing enthusiasts for years to come.
Rafael Ruelas Fight Record
| # | Date | Age | Opponent | Result | Via |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | Aug 8, 1999 | 28 | Hicklet Lau | Win | SD |
| 56 | Aug 15, 1998 | 27 | Kostya Tszyu | Loss | TKO9 |
| 55 | Jun 19, 1998 | 27 | Juan Baldwin | Win | RTD5 |
| 54 | Mar 21, 1998 | 26 | Tim Scott | Win | TKO2 |
| 53 | Nov 14, 1997 | 26 | Rodney Wilson | Win | TKO7 |
| 52 | Jul 19, 1997 | 26 | Mike Griffith | Win | TKO2 |
| 51 | Jan 23, 1997 | 25 | Jesus Arce | Win | TKO2 |
| 50 | Dec 3, 1996 | 25 | Jaime Balboa | Win | KO5 |
| 49 | Aug 23, 1996 | 25 | Livingstone Bramble | Win | UD |
| 48 | Jul 10, 1996 | 25 | Mike Walsh | Win | KO2 |
| 47 | Apr 30, 1996 | 25 | Tomas Barrientes | Win | KO2 |
| 46 | Oct 7, 1995 | 24 | George Scott | Loss | UD |
| 45 | May 6, 1995 | 24 | Oscar De La Hoya | Loss | TKO2 |
| 44 | Jan 28, 1995 | 23 | Billy Schwer | Win | RTD8 |
| 43 | Dec 8, 1994 | 23 | Omar Pacheco | Win | KO3 |
| 42 | May 27, 1994 | 23 | Mike Evgen | Win | TKO3 |
| 41 | Feb 19, 1994 | 22 | Freddie Pendleton | Win | UD |
| 40 | Oct 22, 1993 | 22 | Manuel Hernandez | Win | KO1 |
| 39 | Aug 19, 1993 | 22 | Conrado Lopez | Win | KO1 |
| 38 | Jul 17, 1993 | 22 | Darryl Tyson | Win | UD |
| 37 | Feb 23, 1993 | 21 | Robert Rivera | Win | TKO3 |
| 36 | Jan 19, 1993 | 21 | Roberto Burgos | Win | KO1 |
| 35 | Nov 6, 1992 | 21 | Jorge Páez | Win | RTD10 |
| 34 | Aug 25, 1992 | 21 | Benny Dominguez | Win | KO1 |
| 33 | Jul 7, 1992 | 21 | Mauro Gutierrez | Win | UD |
| 32 | May 26, 1992 | 21 | Francisco Ortiz | Win | TKO2 |
| 31 | Apr 3, 1992 | 20 | Francisco Lopez | Win | TKO1 |
| 30 | Jan 30, 1992 | 20 | Rocky Lockridge | Win | UD |
| 29 | Nov 26, 1991 | 20 | Juan De La Paz | Win | TKO2 |
| 28 | Jul 31, 1991 | 20 | Mauro Gutierrez | Loss | KO2 |
| 27 | Jun 25, 1991 | 20 | Narciso Valenzuela Romo | Win | UD |
| 26 | May 17, 1991 | 20 | Fernando Soldadito Teran | Win | KO1 |
| 25 | Mar 31, 1991 | 19 | Steve Cruz | Win | KO3 |
| 24 | Feb 26, 1991 | 19 | Vicente Gonzalez | Win | UD |
| 23 | Jan 14, 1991 | 19 | Tomas Valdez | Win | TKO3 |
| 22 | Nov 27, 1990 | 19 | Richard Abila | Win | KO7 |
| 21 | Sep 22, 1990 | 19 | Felipe de Jesus | Win | TKO7 |
| 20 | Aug 17, 1990 | 19 | Job Walters | Win | TKO9 |
| 19 | Jul 31, 1990 | 19 | Rosendo Alonso | Win | TKO1 |
| 18 | Jun 18, 1990 | 19 | Abe Gomez | Win | UD |
| 17 | May 29, 1990 | 19 | Vicente Gonzalez | Win | RTD5 |
| 16 | Apr 14, 1990 | 18 | Arturo Hernandez | Win | TKO1 |
| 15 | Mar 8, 1990 | 18 | Antonio Sanchez | Win | KO2 |
| 14 | Feb 27, 1990 | 18 | Roberto Rios | Win | TKO2 |
| 13 | Feb 5, 1990 | 18 | Simon Contreras | Win | KO5 |
| 12 | Nov 28, 1989 | 18 | Ricardo Flores | Win | KO1 |
| 11 | Oct 24, 1989 | 18 | Margarito Ruiz | Win | DQ |
| 10 | Sep 26, 1989 | 18 | Jose Luis Vazquez | Win | KO1 |
| 9 | Aug 29, 1989 | 18 | Joey Quinlan | Win | KO1 |
| 8 | Jul 14, 1989 | 18 | Ben Gomez | Win | KO3 |
| 7 | Jun 27, 1989 | 18 | Chilo Guzman | Win | KO3 |
| 6 | Jun 16, 1989 | 18 | Benito Rodriguez | Win | KO3 |
| 5 | May 30, 1989 | 18 | Javier Lara | Win | KO3 |
| 4 | Apr 25, 1989 | 17 | Margarito Arreola | Win | MD |
| 3 | Mar 28, 1989 | 17 | Leopoldo Maya | Win | TKO1 |
| 2 | Feb 14, 1989 | 17 | Robert Rayford | Win | TKO3 |
| 1 | Jan 17, 1989 | 17 | Marcos Covarrubias | Win | UD |
