Rafael Ruelas
Mexican boxer
Rafael Ruelas
Born (1971-04-26 ) 26 April 1971 (age 53) Nationality Mexican American Statistics Weight(s) Featherweight Lightweight Super lightweight Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Reach 71 in (180 cm) Stance Orthodox
Boxing record Total fights 57 Wins 53 Wins by KO 41 Losses 4
Rafael Ruelas (born 26 April 1971) is a Mexican real estate agent in Granada Hills, California . He was a professional boxer who held the IBF lightweight world championship from 1994 until 1995.
Professional career
Shortly after a TKO in 10 over Jorge Páez in 1992, Ruelas earned a shot at IBF lightweight title Freddie Pendleton , overcoming an early knockdown and winning by unanimous decision.
Ruelas was able to successfully defend his title prior to being challenged by the rapidly rising star Oscar De La Hoya . De la Hoya, despite having lost to Ruelas twice in golden gloves, defeated Ruelas, knocking him down twice and ending the fight in the second round.[ 1]
Ruelas's career and success were driven by a tenacious, aggressive, and disciplined character. Ruelas retired in 1999 and went on to marry American beauty product business owner, Sabrina Ruelas. The couple have three children together. In an interview, Ruelas was quoted as saying that his wife and family are his biggest accomplishments, surpassing even his championship belts. Ruelas serves as a real estate agent in Granada Hills.
Professional boxing record
57 fights
53 wins
4 losses
By knockout
41
3
By decision
11
1
By disqualification
1
0
No.
Result
Record
Opponent
Type
Round
Date
Location
Notes
57
Win
53–4
Hicklet Lau
SD
10
Aug 8, 1999
New Frontier Hotel, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
56
Loss
52–4
Kostya Tszyu
TKO
9 (12)
Aug 15, 1998
County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
55
Win
52–3
Juan Baldwin
RTD
5 (10)
Jun 19, 1998
Trump Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
54
Win
51–3
Tim Scott
TKO
2 (?)
Mar 21, 1998
Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany
53
Win
50–3
Rodney Wilson
TKO
7 (10)
Nov 14, 1997
South Padre Island, Texas, U.S.
52
Win
49–3
Mike Griffith
TKO
2 (10)
Jul 19, 1997
Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
51
Win
48–3
Jesus Arce
TKO
2 (10)
Jan 23, 1997
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
50
Win
47–3
Jaime Balboa
KO
5 (10)
Dec 3, 1996
Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
49
Win
46–3
Livingstone Bramble
UD
10
Aug 23, 1996
Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
48
Win
45–3
Mike Walsh
KO
2 (10)
Jul 10, 1996
Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
47
Win
44–3
Tomas Barrientes
KO
2 (10)
Apr 30, 1996
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
46
Loss
43–3
George Scott
UD
12
Oct 7, 1995
Atlantis Resorts and Casino, Paradise Island, Bahamas
For vacant WBU lightweight title
45
Loss
43–2
Oscar De La Hoya
TKO
2 (12)
May 6, 1995
Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Lost IBF lightweight title; For WBO lightweight title
44
Win
43–1
Billy Schwer
RTD
8 (12)
Jan 28, 1995
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Retained IBF lightweight title
43
Win
42–1
Omar Pacheco
KO
3 (10)
Dec 8, 1994
Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
42
Win
41–1
Mike Evgen
TKO
3 (12)
May 27, 1994
MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Retained IBF lightweight title
41
Win
40–1
Freddie Pendleton
UD
12
Feb 19, 1994
Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
Won IBF lightweight title
40
Win
39–1
Manuel Hernandez
KO
1 (8)
Oct 22, 1993
Boise State Pavilion, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
39
Win
38–1
Conrado Lopez
KO
1 (10)
Aug 19, 1993
Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S.
38
Win
37–1
Darryl Tyson
UD
10
Jul 17, 1993
Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
37
Win
36–1
Robert Rivera
TKO
3 (12)
Feb 23, 1993
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
Retained NABF lightweight title; title match despite Rivera being 4lbs overweight
36
Win
35–1
Roberto Burgos
KO
1 (10)
Jan 19, 1993
Boise Center, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
Won vacant NABF lightweight title
35
Win
34–1
Jorge Páez
RTD
10 (12)
Nov 6, 1992
Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
Won vacant NABF lightweight title
34
Win
33–1
Benny Dominguez
KO
1 (10)
Aug 25, 1992
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
33
Win
32–1
Mauro Gutierrez
UD
10
Jul 7, 1992
Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
32
Win
31–1
Francisco Ortiz
TKO
2 (10)
May 26, 1992
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
31
Win
30–1
Francisco Lopez
TKO
1 (8)
Apr 3, 1992
Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
30
Win
29–1
Rocky Lockridge
UD
10
Jan 30, 1992
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
29
Win
28–1
Juan De La Paz
TKO
2 (10)
Nov 26, 1991
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
28
Loss
27–1
Mauro Gutierrez
KO
2 (12)
Jul 31, 1991
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
For vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title
27
Win
27–0
Narciso Valenzuela Romo
UD
10
Jun 25, 1991
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
26
Win
26–0
Fernando Soldadito Teran
KO
1 (10)
May 17, 1991
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
25
Win
25–0
Steve Cruz
KO
3 (12)
Mar 31, 1991
Sands Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Won vacant NABF featherweight title
24
Win
24–0
Vicente Gonzalez
UD
10
Feb 26, 1991
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
23
Win
23–0
Tomas Valdez
TKO
3 (12)
Jan 14, 1991
Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
Won vacant IBF American featherweight title
22
Win
22–0
Richard Abila
KO
7 (12)
Nov 27, 1990
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
Won vacant USA California State featherweight title
21
Win
21–0
Felipe de Jesus
TKO
7 (10)
Sep 22, 1990
Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.
20
Win
20–0
Job Walters
TKO
9 (10)
Aug 17, 1990
Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
19
Win
19–0
Rosendo Alonso
TKO
1 (10)
Jul 31, 1990
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
18
Win
18–0
Abe Gomez
UD
10
Jun 18, 1990
Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
17
Win
17–0
Vicente Gonzalez
RTD
5 (10)
May 29, 1990
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
16
Win
16–0
Arturo Hernandez
TKO
1 (8)
Apr 14, 1990
Mirage Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
15
Win
15–0
Antonio Sanchez
KO
2 (?)
Mar 8, 1990
Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
14
Win
14–0
Roberto Rios
TKO
2 (8)
Feb 27, 1990
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
13
Win
13–0
Simon Contreras
KO
5 (?)
Feb 5, 1990
Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
12
Win
12–0
Ricardo Flores
KO
1 (8)
Nov 28, 1989
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
11
Win
11–0
Margarito Ruiz
DQ
1 (6)
Oct 24, 1989
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
10
Win
10–0
Jose Luis Vazquez
KO
1 (6)
Sep 26, 1989
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
9
Win
9–0
Joey Quinlan
KO
1 (?)
Aug 29, 1989
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
8
Win
8–0
Ben Gomez
KO
3 (4)
Jul 14, 1989
Riviera Club, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
7
Win
7–0
Chilo Guzman
KO
3 (6)
Jun 27, 1989
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
6
Win
6–0
Benito Rodriguez
KO
3 (?)
Jun 16, 1989
Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.
5
Win
5–0
Javier Lara
KO
3 (6)
May 30, 1989
Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
4
Win
4–0
Margarito Arreola
MD
4
Apr 25, 1989
Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
3
Win
3–0
Leopoldo Maya
TKO
1 (4)
Mar 28, 1989
Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
2
Win
2–0
Robert Rayford
TKO
3 (4)
Feb 14, 1989
Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1
Win
1–0
Marcos Covarrubias
UD
4
Jan 17, 1989
Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Pay-per-view bouts
Date
Fight
Billing
Buys
Network
May 6, 1995
De La Hoya vs. Ruelas
La Batalla
330,000[ 2]
HBO
References
External links