Gabriel Ruelas


Gabriel Ruelas,, is a former professional boxer.

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. 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 lost title fight with Oscar De La Hoya. 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 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 and relative Guillermo U. Ruelas, all attended Poly Technic High School in Sun Valley, California.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
56Loss49–7Courtney BurtonTKO2003-03-24Cajun Dome, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
55Win49–6Gene VassarUD2002-06-28Farm Bureau Building, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
54Win48–6Lee CargleUD2002-05-22Ameristar Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
53Win47–6Pedro GarciaUD2001-03-11Feather Falls Casino, Oroville, California, USA
52Loss46–6Manuel GarnicaMD1999-10-03Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, USA
51Win46–5Jose Alfonso RodriguezUD1999-08-07Miami, Florida, USA
50Loss45–5John BrownTKO1998-10-24Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
49Win45–4Troy DorseyTKO1998-07-11Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, USAInternational Boxing Association Intercontinental lightweight title
48Loss44–4Arturo GattiTKO1997-10-04Caesars Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USAFor IBFsuper featherweight title
47Win44–3James CraytonUD1997-02-14Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, USA
46Win43–3Angelo NunezTD1996-09-16Arizona Charlie's, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
45Win42–3Julio Cesar HerreraUD1996-03-13Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
44Loss41–3Azumah NelsonTKO1995-12-01Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, USALost WBC super featherweight title
43Win41–2Jimmy GarciaTKO1995-05-06Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USARetained WBC super featherweight title
42Win40–2Freddie LiberatoreRTD1995-01-28MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USARetained WBC super featherweight title
41Win39–2Jesse James LeijaUD1994-09-17MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USAWon WBC super featherweight title
40Win38–2Paris AlexanderTKO1994-05-20Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
39Win37–2Raul HernandezTKO1994-02-08Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
38Win36–2Eduardo JacquesKO1994-01-21Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA
37Win35–2Mike GrowTKO1993-10-22Boise State Pavilion, Boise, Idaho, USA
36Win34–2Ben LopezTKO1993-08-28Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, USA
35Loss33–2Azumah NelsonMD1993-02-20Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MexicoFor WBC super featherweight title
34Win33–1Gabriel CastroUD1992-09-29Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
33Win32–1Ismael DiazUD1992-08-25Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
32Win31–1Ditau Paul MolefyaneMD1992-06-27Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
31Win30–1Raymundo ArceTKO1992-05-26Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
30Win29–1Moises MartinezTKO1992-04-02Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, USA
29Win28–1Tomas ValdezUD1992-02-22Sports Arena, San Diego, California, USA
28Win27–1Jorge PalomaresUD1992-01-30Country Club, Reseda, California, USANABF super featherweight title
27Win26–1Ascencion LugoKO1991-11-26Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
26Win25–1Alvaro BohorquezUD1991-08-17Sports Arena, San Diego, California, USANABF super featherweight title
25Win24–1Aaron LopezUD1991-07-31Country Club, Reseda, California, USANABF super featherweight title
24Win23–1Eduardo MontoyaKO1991-06-25Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
23Win22–1Pedro MendozaUD1991-06-01Radisson Resort, Palm Springs, California, USA
22Loss21–1Jeff FranklinTKO1990-04-14Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
21Win21–0Leonardo MorenoUD1990-03-08Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, USA
20Win20–0Dana RostonKO1990-02-27Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
19Win19–0Arturo HernandezTKO1990-02-05Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, USA
18Win18–0Javier MaciasKOJavier MaciasCountry Club, Reseda, California, USA
17Win17–0Freddie SantosUD1989-10-24Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
16Win16–0Fred HernandezUD1989-09-26Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
15Win15–0Abe CastroKO1989-08-29Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
14Win14–0Randy ReedyUD1989-07-14Riviera Club, Chicago, Illinois, USA
13Win13–0Francisco PascasioTKO1989-06-27Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
12Win12–0Antonio MarinKO1989-06-16Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, USA
11Win11–0Jorge RodriguezUD1989-05-30Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
10Win10–0Mario LozanoUD1989-04-25Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
9Win9–0Josefino SuarezUD1989-03-28Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
8Win8–0Vicente AriasTKO1989-02-14Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
7Win7–0Martin UriasTKO1989-01-17Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
6Win6–0Alberto AlmaguerKO1988-12-09Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
5Win5–0Juvenal MolinaUD1988-11-29Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
4Win4–0Willie GarciaKO1988-11-15El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, USA
3Win3–0Jaime MoralesKO1988-10-14Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
2Win2–0Tranquilino MartinezUD1988-09-27Country Club, Reseda, California, USA
1Win1–0Raul MartinezKO1988-09-16Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Honors