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Ruiz
rips Klitschko
LAS VEGAS (November 7, 2005) - In the wake of yet another announcement
postponing the Klitschko-Rahman fight, World Boxing Association
heavyweight champion John "The Quietman" Ruiz has come out of his corner
firing at Vitali Klitschko, calling for the World Boxing Council to
strip Klitschko of his title and appealing to the public and media for
their reevaluation of the heavyweight division.
Klitschko has pulled out of his scheduled title fight this Saturday
against Rahman due to an alleged knee injury. It marks the fourth time
Klitschko, who hasn't made a single mandatory defense in the 20 months
since he's been WBC champ, has claimed an injury forcing postponement of
his title defense against Rahman.
"I'm not surprised and I don't think too many people in boxing are
really surprised," Ruiz (41-5-1, 28 KOs) remarked about Klitschko
pulling out of yet another match. "First it was his hamstring injury
from jogging, then it spread to his back, and now it's his knee. It's
always something with this guy. They should really check his heart. HBO,
Ring and anybody else that supports this guy as the so-called real
heavyweight champion of the world should be ashamed of themselves. They
have their own agendas. Klitschko doesn't want to fight anybody he can't
handpick. Who has he ever beaten? World champions have to defend their
title against the best opponents in the world. The WBC should strip him
of the belt and award it to Rahman. Klitschko should pay Rahman for all
of the time he's wasted training. They had to force him to fight Rahman
and he still pulled out.
"What does Klitschko mean in Russian, chicken? He quit on the stool with
a shoulder injury against (Chris) Byrd in the 10th round of a 12-round
fight that he was leading big. A doctor gave him approval to fight
Rahman, but he chose not to fight. He's tall, big and may look like a
heavyweight champion. But he doesn't have the heart and soul of a world
champ. It's not what's on the outside, it's what's inside that counts."
Ruiz, the first and only world heavyweight champion of Hispanic
heritage, has been an outspoken proponent for a tournament between the
four acknowledged world heavyweight champions to determine one
universally recognized title holder, as well as the driving force for
stricter testing of performance enhancing drugs in boxing. He presently
is at training camp in Las Vegas preparing for his December 17th title
defense in Berlin against Nicolay Valuev (42-0, 31 KOs).
"I've never ducked anybody," Ruiz noted. "Nobody ever had to force me to
fight a mandatory. I'm going halfway around the world to fight a giant -
one-foot taller and 100-pounds heavier than me - in his backyard because
I'm a true world champion. Valuev is my mandatory and after I take care
of that fight, I'm pushing hard once again for a tournament so the
public will have one heavyweight champion. Klitschko's the reason we
haven't had a tournament because he wants to pick and choose his
opponents like (Danny) Williams, (Oleg) Maskaev or (Calvin) Brock),
instead of putting his belt on the line against one of the other
champions. If the WBC does the right thing and makes Rahman the new
champion like he deserves, boxing will be able to have a tournament next
year and the public will know who the real man is in the heavyweight
division, John Ruiz. Compare my record to any of the other heavyweight
champions."
Ruiz has defeated three world champions - Evander Holyfield, Hasim
Rahman and Tony Tucker - as well as top 10 contenders Andrew Golota,
Fres Oquendo and Kirk Johnson.
