# Gabriel Ruelas

Gabriel Ruelas, (born on July 23, 1970, in Yerbabuena, Jalisco, Mexico), is a Mexican former professional boxer who held the WBC Super Featherweight world championship from 1994 to 1995.

## Professional 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 (Rafael Ruelas) 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 The Ring magazine 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 (also a professional boxer) and relative Guillermo U. Ruelas, all attended Poly Technic High School in Sun Valley, California.

## Professional boxing record

| 56 fights | 49 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 24 | 5 |
| By decision | 25 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 56 | Loss | 49–7 | Courtney Burton | TKO | 8 (10) | 2003-03-24 | Cajundome, Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 49–6 | Gene Vassar | UD | 6 (6) | 2002-06-28 | Farm Bureau Building, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 48–6 | Lee Cargle | UD | 6 (6) | 2002-05-22 | Ameristar Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 47–6 | Pedro Garcia | UD | 8 (8) | 2001-03-11 | Feather Falls Casino, Oroville, California, U.S. | |
| 52 | Loss | 46–6 | Manuel Garnica | MD | 10 (10) | 1999-10-03 | Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 46–5 | Jose Alfonso Rodriguez | UD | 10 (10) | 1999-08-07 | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 50 | Loss | 45–5 | John Brown | TKO | 8 (10) | 1998-10-24 | Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 45–4 | Troy Dorsey | TKO | 6 (12) | 1998-07-11 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | For IBA Intercontinental lightweight title |
| 48 | Loss | 44–4 | Arturo Gatti | TKO | 5 (12) | 1997-10-04 | Caesars Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | For IBF super featherweight title |
| 47 | Win | 44–3 | James Crayton | UD | 10 (10) | 1997-02-14 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 43–3 | Angelo Nunez | TD | 8 (10) | 1996-09-16 | Arizona Charlie's, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 42–3 | Julio Cesar Herrera | UD | 10 (10) | 1996-03-13 | Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 44 | Loss | 41–3 | Azumah Nelson | TKO | 5 (12) | 1995-12-01 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | Lost WBC super featherweight title |
| 43 | Win | 41–2 | Jimmy Garcia | TKO | 11 (12) | 1995-05-06 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC super featherweight title |
| 42 | Win | 40–2 | Freddie Liberatore | RTD | 2 (12) | 1995-01-28 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC super featherweight title |
| 41 | Win | 39–2 | Jesse James Leija | UD | 12 (12) | 17 Sep 1994 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBC super featherweight title |
| 40 | Win | 38–2 | Paris Alexander | TKO | 7 (10) | 1994-05-20 | Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 37–2 | Raul Hernandez | TKO | 7 (10) | 1994-02-08 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 36–2 | Eduardo Jacques | KO | 7 (10) | 1994-01-21 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 35–2 | Mike Grow | TKO | 8 (10) | 1993-10-22 | Boise State Pavilion, Boise, Idaho, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 34–2 | Ben Lopez | TKO | 5 (10) | 1993-08-28 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 35 | Loss | 33–2 | Azumah Nelson | MD | 12 (12) | Feb 20, 1993 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | For WBC super featherweight title |
| 34 | Win | 33–1 | Gabriel Castro | UD | 10 (10) | 1992-09-29 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 33 | Win | 32–1 | Ismael Diaz | UD | 10 (10) | 1992-08-25 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 31–1 | Ditau Paul Molefyane | MD | 10 (10) | 1992-06-27 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 31 | Win | 30–1 | Raymundo Arce | TKO | 7 (10) | 1992-05-26 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 29–1 | Moises Martinez | TKO | 1 (10) | 1992-04-02 | Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 28–1 | Tomas Valdez | UD | 8 (8) | 1992-02-22 | Sports Arena, San Diego, California, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 27–1 | Jorge Palomares | UD | 12 (12) | 1992-01-30 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | Retained NABF super featherweight title |
| 27 | Win | 26–1 | Ascencion Lugo | KO | 1 (10) | 1991-11-26 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 25–1 | Alvaro Bohorquez | UD | 12 (12) | 1991-08-17 | Sports Arena, San Diego, California, U.S. | Retained NABF super featherweight title |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Aaron Lopez | UD | 12 (12) | 1991-07-31 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | For vacant NABF super featherweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Eduardo Montoya | KO | 1 (10) | 1991-06-25 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Pedro Mendoza | UD | 10 (10) | 1991-06-01 | Radisson Resort, Palm Springs, California, U.S. | |
| 22 | Loss | 21–1 | Jeff Franklin | TKO | 7 (10) | 1990-04-14 | The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Leonardo Moreno | UD | 6 (6) | 1990-03-08 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Dana Roston | KO | 3 (10) | 1990-02-27 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Arturo Hernandez | TKO | 3 (6) | 1990-02-05 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Javier Macias | KO | 2 (8) | 1989-11-28 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Freddie Santos | UD | 6 (6) | 1989-10-24 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Fred Hernandez | UD | 8 (8) | 1989-09-26 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Abe Castro | KO | 4 (?) | 1989-08-29 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Randy Reedy | UD | 6 (6) | 1989-07-14 | Riviera Club, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Francisco Pascasio | TKO | 5 (6) | 1989-06-27 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Antonio Marin | KO | 1 (?) | 1989-06-16 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Jorge Rodriguez | UD | 6 (6) | 1989-05-30 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Mario Lozano | UD | 4 (4) | 1989-04-25 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Josefino Suarez | UD | 4 (4) | 1989-03-28 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Vicente Arias | TKO | 1 (4) | 1989-02-14 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Martin Urias | TKO | 2 (4) | 1989-01-17 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Alberto Almaguer | KO | 1 (4) | 1988-12-09 | Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Juvenal Molina | UD | 6 (6) | 1988-11-29 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Willie Garcia | KO | 1 (4) | 1988-11-15 | El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jaime Morales | KO | 1 (?) | 1988-10-14 | Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Tranquilino Martinez | UD | 4 (4) | 1988-09-27 | Country Club, Reseda, California, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Raul Martinez | TKO | 1 (4) | 1988-09-16 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |

## Honours

* 2006 California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee.