Heavyweight Boxer

Showtime presents

September 17, 2000

John Ruiz, one of boxing's finest heavyweight contenders, answers questions about himself and his sport.

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Showtime: Please welcome one of boxing's finest heavyweight contenders, John "Quiet Man" Ruiz. What is it about Ruiz's "clutch, club and clinch style" that prompted Holyfield to rank the fight as "one of the toughest fights I've had"? The Puerto Rican native who went pro in mid-1992 has come a long way and developed superior boxing skills along with his own unique boxing style. Ruiz, with his crowd pleasing style, comes prepared to fight hard and that was made clear in his last match with Holyfield. Now let's turn to the "Quiet Man" as he gets vocal about the controversial Holyfield match and future boxing plans. Hi, John, and welcome!

John Ruiz: How are you doing? I'm doing good over here.

Doofus: So, how come they call you the "Quiet Man"?

John Ruiz: That started a long time ago, when I was in my amateur career. There were a couple of guys in Lake Placid at the U.S. Training Camp, and my manager came up to visit one day, and he started asking for me. Most of the guys there were saying, "oh, you are looking for the quiet guy," and all of a sudden I became the "Quiet Man."

Aqua: How did your parents help you along the way?

John Ruiz: Well, it was my stepfather who brought me up to the sport. He and my mother were both great parents, but my stepfather kept me on every sport that was available--football, basketball, baseball, whatever was available. All that stuff kept me away from the peer pressure in the streets, the drugs and the alcohol, and it improved my life.

Willy-Sabbit: How long did you box before your name began to be recognized?

John Ruiz: A long time. It's been a long road for me. It's been like a roller coaster ride, and I guess this fight with Holyfield was the fight that really got my name out there.

Bill: Where are you right now? Are you watching the replay of the fight on CBS?

John Ruiz: Yes, I am, I'm watching a large screen TV. I'm at Good Times, a sports bar, and they have a little room in the back with a big screen TV that has the fight on.

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