Former two-time WBA world heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz announced his retirement from boxing Monday.
Ruiz (44-9-1-1, 30 KOs), the first Latino heavyweight titlist ever, fought his last fight earlier this month in a ninth round TKO loss to current WBA champ David “The Hayemaker” Haye (24-1, 22KOs).
Ruiz, 38, a native of Methuen who later moved to Las Vegas, was a capable fighter who defeated three champions in his 18-year career, including Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs).
Nevertheless, his defensive and controversial “grab and clinch” fighting style made him an extremely unpopular fighter on a national level.
Despite his uninspiring tactics in the ring, Ruiz is a good man and a true gentleman in a sport engulfed with corrupt scumbags.
Ruiz stated that he intends to move his family from “Sin City” back to Boston where he will open a boxing gym somewhere in the city.
“The Quietman” was not a beloved pugilist.
Still, John Ruiz is a solid human being and boxing would be a better sport if it had more upstanding individuals like “The Quietman” competing in the squared circle.
Keywords: boxing, david haye, evander holyfield, john ruiz
