# Rafael Ruelas

Rafael Ruelas (born 26 April 1971) is a Mexican real estate agent in Granada Hills, California. He was a professional boxer who held the IBF lightweight world championship from 1994 until 1995. Rafael is the younger brother of former WBC super featherweight champion Gabriel Ruelas. The brothers held their respective world titles concurrently and on January 28, 1995, they became the first pair of brothers to successfully retain their title on the same boxing card.

## Professional career

Shortly after a TKO in 10 over Jorge Páez in 1992, Ruelas earned a shot at IBF lightweight title Freddie Pendleton, overcoming an early knockdown and winning by unanimous decision.
Ruelas was able to successfully defend his title prior to being challenged by the rapidly rising star Oscar De La Hoya. De la Hoya, despite having lost to Ruelas twice in golden gloves, defeated Ruelas, knocking him down twice and ending the fight in the second round.
Ruelas's career and success were driven by a tenacious, aggressive, and disciplined character. Ruelas retired in 1999 and went on to marry American beauty product business owner, Sabrina Ruelas. The couple have three children together. In an interview, Ruelas was quoted as saying that his wife and family are his biggest accomplishments, surpassing even his championship belts. Ruelas serves as a real estate agent in Granada Hills.

## Professional boxing record

| 57 fights | 53 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 41 | 3 |
| By decision | 11 | 1 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 57 | Win | 53–4 | Hicklet Lau | SD | 10 | Aug 8, 1999 | New Frontier Hotel, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 56 | Loss | 52–4 | Kostya Tszyu | TKO | 9 (12) | Aug 15, 1998 | County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 52–3 | Juan Baldwin | RTD | 5 (10) | Jun 19, 1998 | Trump Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 51–3 | Tim Scott | TKO | 2 (?) | Mar 21, 1998 | Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany | |
| 53 | Win | 50–3 | Rodney Wilson | TKO | 7 (10) | Nov 14, 1997 | South Padre Island, Texas, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 49–3 | Mike Griffith | TKO | 2 (10) | Jul 19, 1997 | Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 48–3 | Jesus Arce | TKO | 2 (10) | Jan 23, 1997 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 47–3 | Jaime Balboa | KO | 5 (10) | Dec 3, 1996 | Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 46–3 | Livingstone Bramble | UD | 10 | Aug 23, 1996 | Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 45–3 | Mike Walsh | KO | 2 (10) | Jul 10, 1996 | Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 44–3 | Tomas Barrientes | KO | 2 (10) | Apr 30, 1996 | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 46 | Loss | 43–3 | George Scott | UD | 12 | Oct 7, 1995 | Atlantis Resorts and Casino, Paradise Island, Bahamas | For vacant WBU lightweight title |
| 45 | Loss | 43–2 | Oscar De La Hoya | TKO | 2 (12) | May 6, 1995 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Lost IBF lightweight title; For WBO lightweight title |
| 44 | Win | 43–1 | Billy Schwer | RTD | 8 (12) | Jan 28, 1995 | MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained IBF lightweight title |
| 43 | Win | 42–1 | Omar Pacheco | KO | 3 (10) | Dec 8, 1994 | Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 41–1 | Mike Evgen | TKO | 3 (12) | May 27, 1994 | MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained IBF lightweight title |
| 41 | Win | 40–1 | Freddie Pendleton | UD | 12 | Feb 19, 1994 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Won IBF lightweight title |
| 40 | Win | 39–1 | Manuel Hernandez | KO | 1 (8) | Oct 22, 1993 | Boise State Pavilion, Boise, Idaho, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 38–1 | Conrado Lopez | KO | 1 (10) | Aug 19, 1993 | Marriott Hotel, Irvine, California, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 37–1 | Darryl Tyson | UD | 10 | Jul 17, 1993 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 36–1 | Robert Rivera | TKO | 3 (12) | Feb 23, 1993 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | Retained NABF lightweight title; title match despite Rivera being 4lbs overweight |
| 36 | Win | 35–1 | Roberto Burgos | KO | 1 (10) | Jan 19, 1993 | Boise Center, Boise, Idaho, U.S. | Won vacant NABF lightweight title |
| 35 | Win | 34–1 | Jorge Páez | RTD | 10 (12) | Nov 6, 1992 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Won vacant NABF lightweight title |
| 34 | Win | 33–1 | Benny Dominguez | KO | 1 (10) | Aug 25, 1992 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 32–1 | Mauro Gutierrez | UD | 10 | Jul 7, 1992 | Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, California, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 31–1 | Francisco Ortiz | TKO | 2 (10) | May 26, 1992 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 30–1 | Francisco Lopez | TKO | 1 (8) | Apr 3, 1992 | Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 29–1 | Rocky Lockridge | UD | 10 | Jan 30, 1992 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 28–1 | Juan De La Paz | TKO | 2 (10) | Nov 26, 1991 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 28 | Loss | 27–1 | Mauro Gutierrez | KO | 2 (12) | Jul 31, 1991 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | For vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Narciso Valenzuela Romo | UD | 10 | Jun 25, 1991 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Fernando Soldadito Teran | KO | 1 (10) | May 17, 1991 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Steve Cruz | KO | 3 (12) | Mar 31, 1991 | Sands Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant NABF featherweight title |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Vicente Gonzalez | UD | 10 | Feb 26, 1991 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Tomas Valdez | TKO | 3 (12) | Jan 14, 1991 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Won vacant IBF American featherweight title |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Richard Abila | KO | 7 (12) | Nov 27, 1990 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | Won vacant USA California State featherweight title |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Felipe de Jesus | TKO | 7 (10) | Sep 22, 1990 | Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Job Walters | TKO | 9 (10) | Aug 17, 1990 | Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Rosendo Alonso | TKO | 1 (10) | Jul 31, 1990 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Abe Gomez | UD | 10 | Jun 18, 1990 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Vicente Gonzalez | RTD | 5 (10) | May 29, 1990 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Arturo Hernandez | TKO | 1 (8) | Apr 14, 1990 | Mirage Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Antonio Sanchez | KO | 2 (?) | Mar 8, 1990 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Roberto Rios | TKO | 2 (8) | Feb 27, 1990 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Simon Contreras | KO | 5 (?) | Feb 5, 1990 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Ricardo Flores | KO | 1 (8) | Nov 28, 1989 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Margarito Ruiz | DQ | 1 (6) | Oct 24, 1989 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Jose Luis Vazquez | KO | 1 (6) | Sep 26, 1989 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Joey Quinlan | KO | 1 (?) | Aug 29, 1989 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Ben Gomez | KO | 3 (4) | Jul 14, 1989 | Riviera Club, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Chilo Guzman | KO | 3 (6) | Jun 27, 1989 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Benito Rodriguez | KO | 3 (?) | Jun 16, 1989 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Javier Lara | KO | 3 (6) | May 30, 1989 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Margarito Arreola | MD | 4 | Apr 25, 1989 | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Leopoldo Maya | TKO | 1 (4) | Mar 28, 1989 | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Robert Rayford | TKO | 3 (4) | Feb 14, 1989 | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Marcos Covarrubias | UD | 4 | Jan 17, 1989 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |

## Pay-per-view bouts

| Date | Fight | Billing | Buys | Network |
| May 6, 1995 | De La Hoya vs. Ruelas | La Batalla | 330,000 | HBO |