Title Boxing Newsletter - Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas Launch Boxing Comebacks, Sign Management Deal with Steel City Boxing

Gabriel Ruelas to Fight on June 28 at Farm Bureau Building in Indianapolis, IN

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 19, 2002) – The Ruelas brothers – Gabriel and Rafael – are making a comeback in the ring and in the media spotlight. The two popular fighters from Mexico have signed on with Los Angeles-based manager Mike Rubinstein of Steel City Boxing, and have begun training for a rise back to the top of the boxing ranks. Gabriel Ruelas will fight for the second time this year when he takes on an opponent to be determined on Friday, June 28, at the Farm Bureau Building in Indianapolis, Ind. Tickets to the fight can be purchased through TicketMaster.

Rafael Ruelas, the younger of the two brothers at age 31 (Gabriel is 32), has not fought professionally since August 1999, when he defeated Hicklet Lau in Las Vegas his only fight that year. He has a record of 53-4, with 42 knockouts.

For Gabriel, boxing has been a way of life since 1988. He has fought every year since then, although he has avoided the media spotlight and fought less since 1995, following the death of Jimmy Garcia after the two fought in Las Vegas. He is 48-6 with 24 KOs.

"A lot of people think I made a mistake in deciding to manage Gabriel and Rafael, but I completely disagree," said Rubinstein. "I feel like I got really lucky starting out at the top by getting these two guys. They are talented, hard-working and just the best guys to deal with."

"Mike is a great man and a great manager, and I am looking forward to returning to the boxing spotlight with him," said Gabriel Ruelas. "There is nothing else for me but boxing. I have been actively fighting, but I have been doing it very quietly for the last six years. Unlike most fighters, I have not wanted the cameras or the publicity."

"Boxing is where my heart is," said Rafael Ruelas, who plans to return at junior welterweight. "I am happy to be back in the gym training, and happy to have Mike as my manager. I have missed boxing, and it feels so good to be back!"

About Gabriel Ruelas
Born in Jalisco, Mexico, Gabriel Ruelas immigrated to the United States with his brother and sister when he was seven. While selling candy door-to-door with his brother, Gabriel showed up at Joe Goossen"s gym and announced he wanted to be a fighter. Goossen, who only trained professionals, tried to discourage the 12-year old Gabriel and told him he was not interested in training him. Ruelas was persistent, however, and Goossen reconsidered. Gabriel and his brother Rafael got their nickname "The Candy Kids"- from their first meeting with Goossen.

Gabriel Ruelas enjoyed a successful amateur career that included a 55-3 record and the California Golden Gloves bantamweight championship. He made his pro debut on September 16, 1988, by scoring a first-round knockout over Raul Martinez. From his pro debut in 1988, until March 1990, Ruelas won 21 straight fights, six by knockout in the first round.

On April 14, 1990 against Jeff Franklin in Las Vegas, Ruelas suffered his first professional defeat. He was ahead on all of the judges scorecards when he broke his elbow during the fight. The fight was stopped in the seventh round due to Ruelas injury.

Ruelas stepped back into the ring off his injury on June 1, 1991. He won a 10-round decision over Pedro Mendoza and won 12 straight since his return, setting himself up for a title fight. He got his chance on February 20, 1993, when he met WBC Super Featherweight Champion Azumah Nelson, for Nelson's WBC crown. The fight took place in Mexico City, and despite his country's backing, Ruelas lost a 12-round decision to the experienced veteran.

Despite the tough loss, Ruelas rebounded and won his next eight fights, seven by knockout. One of those wins came on Sept. 17, 1994, in Las Vegas. Ruelas fought a tough battle against James Leija and eventually won a 12-round decision to secure the WBC 130-pound title.

Ruelas defended that title on Jan. 28, 1995, and defeated Fred Liberatore by TKO in the second round. Then came the fight that will forever haunt Ruelas. On May 6, 1995, Ruelas defeated Jimmy Garcia by TKO in the 11th round in Las Vegas. Ruelas dominated the bout, giving Garcia a beating from which he never recovered. Garcia died 13 days later. Garcia's death had an immediate impact on Ruelas, who struggled to regain his championship form after the tragedy.

Six months after the Garcia fight, Ruelas took a rematch against Nelson, despite the objections of everyone around him. A still shocked Ruelas lost to Nelson again, this time in five brutal rounds. He won his next three fights, but was stopped again in October 1997, this time by Arturo Gatti in the fifth round in Atlantic City.

Ruelas fought once in 2001, defeating Pedro Garcia in eight rounds. He also has fought once already this year, earning a win in six rounds against Lee Cargle.

About Rafael Ruelas
The 5' 11 Rafael began his pro career in 1989, with a four-round decision over Marcos Covarrubias. He won 27 consecutive fights before losing on a fluke to Mauro Gutierrez on July 30, 1991. Decked by a flash knockdown in the first round, Ruelas rested on one knee concentrating on directions coming from Joe Goossen in his corner. Suddenly the referee reached 10 and a stunned Ruelas was counted out. He set the record straight the next year by defeating Gutierrez handily in a 10-rounder.

Responding to adversity is a sign of a true champion. On February 19, 1994, in front of a raucous, capacity, pro-Ruelas crowd at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif., Freddie Pendleton knocked Ruelas down twice. The taunting, mocking and boastful Pendleton floored Ruelas in the first round, and then again 30 seconds later. However, instead of ending Ruelas’ world championship bid, it served as a wake-up call.

Ruelas gained momentum against the faltering Pendleton as the fight progressed. The crowd went crazy as Ruelas fired off looping bombshells that broke Pendleton's body and spirit. The bell saved a wavering Pendleton more than once as the champion won only one of the last seven rounds on each of the judges' three scorecards. The final tallies of a fight that saw Pendleton win the first half and Ruelas dominate the second were: 115-110, 114-112 and 116-111 all for Ruelas.

On May 6, 1995, at Caesars Palace, International Boxing Federation (IBF) Lightweight Champion Ruelas met World Boxing Association (WBA) Lightweight Champion Oscar De La Hoya in a unification fight. Both champions were risking everything, especially pride in this battle of California rivals. Ruelas seemed very cool and relaxed as the fight approached, but on fight night the pressure finally got to him. He never got going and succumbed to the strength and speed of De La Hoya in the second round.

After the setback against De La Hoya, Ruelas rebounded to go 9-1 in his next 10 bouts, including eight wins by knockout. That set the stage for a battle with Kostya Tszyu in August 1998. After a tremendous battle between both boxers, Ruelas fell in the ninth round and lost by knockout.

After losing to current undisputed 140-pound world champion Tszyu, Ruelas went back to school and studied financial planning. He now is a licensed stockbroker, a licensed tax preparer and a licensed real estate agent. He recently invested in the Quiznos restaurant franchise and plans to open one by the end of the year in San Fernando, Calif.