SOMERVILLE, Mass. – Former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, John “The Quietman” Ruiz, has gone back to his roots to prepare for his December 13 WBA “Interim” heavyweight title fight against Hasim “The Rock” Rahman at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Ruiz, 31, now lives in Las Vegas, but he has returned home to Massachusetts for training camp. He’s running the same streets and hills in Chelsea, a working class suburb of Boston where he grew up, and working out at the nearby Somerville Boxing Club, where he first met his longtime manager, Norman “Stoney” Stone.
After losing a 12-round decision and WBA title to Roy Jones this past March, Ruiz (38-5-1, 27 KOs) took some time off to resolve personal problems, and accepted an opportunity to replace David Tua against Rahman (35-5-1, 29 KOs). Team Ruiz decided to follow the same pattern and routine that led to John capturing the WBA championship, as well as becoming the first (and only) Latino heavyweight champion of the world, 2 ½ years ago with his 12-round decision against Evander Holyfield.
“It’s time for me to re-establish myself in the boxing world,” Ruiz said. “This is a great opportunity for me. I’m ready. The heavyweight division is wide open and I want to get back on the top where I was. We’ve come back to train where we came from.”
One change in Team Ruiz, however, is head trainer Gabe LaMarca has retired. Stone, who has served as manager and cut man, has replaced LaMarca as chief second. Bobby Covino, Bryan Stone, Alex Rivera and Eddie Ruiz remain in Ruiz’ corner. “We’re going to miss Gabe,” Stone noted. “He was an important part of a our championship team, but Gabe retired and we have to move on. Our promoter, Don King, has given us a great opportunity. Rahman’s a good fighter, but John is ready for this challenge.”
The WBA has mandated that Jones face the Ruiz-Rahman winner or be stripped of his title.
Ruiz-Rahman is part of “Back-to-Back-to-Back,” a pay-per-view blockbuster promoted by Don King Promotions, featuring middleweight champions Bernard Hopkins and William Joppy, welterweight title-holders Ricardo Mayorga and Cory Spinks.