07.09.06 – A renowned heavyweight boxer is going to strengthen team Sauerland from now on….John “The Quiet Man” Ruiz has signed a managing contract with Wilfried Sauerland. The US-American had contacted Sauerland and asked him to take on the managing tasks. “For me it´s a great obligation to get such a proposal from a repeated heavyweight world champion,” Sauerland explains.
“And I´ll try to cope with the task.“ The 34 years old´s proposal also demonstrates the increasing significance that Germany has taken up in the US boxing business. “We´re a global proceeding company.“
Wilfried Sauerland is going to succeed Ruiz´ previous manager Norman Stone and will manage the former world champion together with co-manager Anthony Cardinale. However Don King will still promote the Puerto Rico-born “Quiet Man”. King had become aware of Ruiz after his KO win over the former WBA world champion Tony Tucker in 1998.
Six years ago Ruiz was in the worldwide spotlight – on 12th August, 2000 he lost on points against Evander Holyfield for the vacant WBA title. Thus Holyfield was the first boxer who became the four-time heavyweight world champion. There was a rematch because of the win not being undisputed on 3rd March, 2001. This time Ruiz won on points. He retired after his loss to James Toney in April. But when it turned out that Toney allegedly had taken drugs the fight has been annulled and Ruiz withdrew from his retirement plans.
“The Quiet Man” absolved his last title defence on 18th December, 2005 at the Berlin Max-Schmeling-Gym where he lost on points against Nikolai Valuev and therefore had to elinquish his title.
During the tribute to the champion a strange scene had happened those days – Ruiz´ manager Norman Stone snatched the world championship belt away from the “Russian Giant”´s shoulder and presented it to the viewers. He just handed it back after a brawl with Valuev´s person in charge Hagen Sevecke. Even then Ruiz used to say that his team has been damaged irreparable because of this behavior.
Ruiz refers to 49 professional fights with 41 wins (28 K.O.´s), 6 defeats, 1 draw and 1 fight without score.