Gabriel Ruelas, (born on July 23, 1970 in
Yerbabuena,
Jalisco,
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
), is a Mexican former
professional boxer
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...
.
Professional career
Ruelas turned pro in 1988 and in 1993 challenged WBC Super Featherweight Title holder
Azumah Nelson, losing a close majority decision.
In 1994 he was able to capture the title by outpointing
Jesse James Leija
James Leija (born July 8, 1966), best known as Jesse James Leija, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2005. He held the WBC super featherweight title in 1994, and challenged twice each for world titles at lightwe ...
. He defended the belt twice, including an 11th round TKO of
Jimmy Garcia of
Colombia, who later died from his injuries. Ruelas contemplated retirement after Garcia's death, however, he decided to continue, promising to donate some of his earnings to the Garcia family. Ruelas later reflected that he was never the same fighter following that incident. His fight with Garcia was an undercard to his brother's (
Rafael Ruelas) lost title fight with
Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya ( , ; born on February 4, 1973) is an American boxing promoter and former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2008. His accolades include winning 11 world titles in six weight classes, including the lineal championshi ...
.
Ruelas lost his title in a rematch to Nelson in 1995, via TKO in the 5th. In 1997 he took on hard-hitting
Arturo Gatti
Arturo Gatti (April 15, 1972 – July 11, 2009) was an Italian-Canadian professional boxer who competed from 1991 to 2007. A world champion in two weight classes, Gatti held the IBF junior lightweight title from 1995 to 1998, and the WBC supe ...
for the IBF Super Featherweight Title but was TKO'd in the 5th. The fifth round of this bout was chosen as
Ring Magazine's Round of the Year for 1997. The fight itself was also named "Fight of the Year" by the same magazine.
Ruelas retired in 2003 after losing to
Courtney Burton. Gabriel's brother,
Rafael (also a professional boxer) and relative Guillermo U. Ruelas, all attended Poly Technic High School in
Sun Valley, California.
Professional boxing record
Honours
*2006 California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee.
See also
*
List of WBC world champions
*
List of Mexican boxing world champions
In Mexico, boxing is considered a major sport, having produced over 200 world champions in professional boxing. Mexico ranks first worldwide between countries with most boxing world champions and is the second country to have world champions accre ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruelas, Gabriel
1970 births
Living people
Mexican emigrants to the United States
American boxers of Mexican descent
Boxers from Jalisco
American male boxers
Super-featherweight boxers
World boxing champions