Rafael Ruelas

Coach

Biography:

Rafael Ruelas was a popular professional boxer with a professional record of 53 wins, 4 losses and 42 KO’s. Rafael turned professional at the early age of 17. On Nov. 27, 1990 he won the CA State Featherweight Championship and 3 fights later, on 3/31/1991 he knocked out the former world champion, Steve Cruz for the NABF Featherweight title in 3 rounds. After accumulating 27 consecutive wins he lost his 28th fight by accident/blooper (featured on Fred Roggin’s Sports Bloopers). He returned to the ring and won 4 fights before getting a rematch and winning a tough 10 rd unanimous decision against Mauro Gutierrez. In his 35th fight he faced and stopped the former world champion Jorge Paez after 10 rounds at the Great Western Forum and became the NABF Lightweight champion. 6 fights later he faced Freddie Pendleton and became the IBF Lightweight World Champion by unanimous decision. In his 45th fight he was defending his world title against the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya and lost by 2nd round TKO. In his 46th fight he faced George Scott for the WBU Lightweight Championship and lost by unanimous decision. In his 56th fight he faced Australian/Russian World Champion Kostya Tszyu for the (WBC) World Boxing Councils Light Welterweight Championship. On 8/8/1999 he returned to the ring one more time and won by decision. He retired after that as he had his first Son Rafael Sebastian Ruelas born on 8/30/1999. He has since been inducted into the World Boxing Hall of fame, the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame, and has been nominated to be in the National Boxing Hall of Fame as well, together with his, also former world boxing champion Gabriel Ruelas. He has gone to college, attained a degree in Business Management and Accounting and has been a Realtor since 2002. He has continued to practice his passion of boxing, running and assisting many people to reach their boxing/fitness and Real Estate goals.