John Ruiz: “Manny Pacquiao has lost a little luster, I don’t think he’s going to be capable of beating Mayweather”.

I recently was afforded an opportunity to speak to former 2 time heavyweight champion, John ‘The Quiet man’ Ruiz to discuss his boxing career and get his view on the current boxing landscape. Ruiz is the first Latino boxer to win a heavyweight title belt, and is best known for his trilogy with Evander Holyfield. I talk to John about his fights with Holyfield and get his thoughts on the current heavyweight champions. In addition, I also get Ruiz’s thoughts on the highly anticipated Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight. Here is what John Ruiz had to say.

Robert Brown: Can you give me a little background on how you got into boxing?

John Ruiz: I started when I was the age of seven, when my stepfather decided to bring me up to the gym. I was thrown into boxing, when I first started out, I didn’t even know what boxing was. I was only seven years old and my stepfather was a big fan of boxing and from there — growing up in Chelsea, Massachusetts — he would bring me to the gym every day after school.

It was a busy life for me. I did all the running in the morning, then go to school and from school go to the gym and from the gym I would come to my home. Everything revolved around boxing. Boxing was a gift and thank goodness things worked out good for me.

Robert Brown: You got your first shot at a title against Evander Holyfield. The fight was scored for him even though most felt you deserved it. What went through your head when that happened to you?

John Ruiz: Of course fighting a guy like Holyfield, who was a legend himself and me coming out of nowhere and of course I was going up through the ranking and fighting a lot of fighters but just to meet up with a guy like Evander Holyfield and having to fight him was kind of nerve wracking in there.

To go out there and do my best with all I can and to win that fight, and falling short of a decision was kind of a disappointment. After the fight, knowing that I truly won that fight and they gave it to Holyfield — like they said back in the old days, “You have to knockout the champion to win,” and of course they gave him the decision.

Holyfield was a tough guy to fight and at the same time, a tough guy to beat. I thought I did well and I felt great but it is what it is. Sometimes you get the bad end of the stick. I’m glad I was able to fight him again and I’m glad everything worked well for me in that second fight.

Robert Brown: What did it mean to you to win the heavyweight championship and also become the first Latino heavyweight champion?

John Ruiz: The funniest part of it all is that I never knew that there had never been a Latino heavyweight champion. It was kind of strange to me because there’s been so many Latinos champion-wise and there’s never been one in the heavyweight division.

For me it was a great honor to represent myself and my heritage — being from Puerto Rico — and especially to fight a legend like Holyfield and win the title and not only become heavyweight champion, but becoming the first Latino to ever win the heavyweight championship. That itself is a pride and joy for myself, my family and my kids. They read about it now and it’s kind of neat that they see that and they feel some pride, it’s a great feeling.

Robert Brown: Wladimir Klitschko has been a champion for over a decade. Deontay Wilder now holds a belt. What do you think of the current heavyweight scene?

John Ruiz: The heavyweight division has somehow lost luster. Nowadays you can’t even name more than three or four people in the heavyweight division. Before, you used to be able to name nonstop the fighters in the heavyweight division. When I was around, it was a great era and nowadays there’s not too much publicity for the heavyweight division.

Everything is basically being focused on the lower weights — which they deserve, there’s been great fights in the lower weights — and in the heavyweight division it seems like nobody really knows who’s out there and who’s coming up and who’s champion and who’s not champion. It’s sad that the heavyweight division has gone downhill. I’m hoping that it starts picking up more interest to the public. That’s where it’s gone wrong.

Robert Brown: Do you think Deontay Wilder has the ability to bring excitement back to the heavyweight division?

John Ruiz: The assignment will come with getting more publicity to the younger fighters that are coming up. You don’t really hear about the younger fighters that are coming up and I’m hoping they can put more spotlight on them, so at least people know who’s coming up and who’s good and who’s not.

Robert Brown: The biggest fight in boxing history is happening on May 2nd, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Who are you picking?

John Ruiz: I lean towards Mayweather on that one. Mayweather wouldn’t take the fight if he knew that he couldn’t win it. He’s one of the best promoters in boxing, he knows how to promote himself and also box. Pacquiao has lost a little luster, I don’t think he’s going to be capable of beating Mayweather.

Robert Brown: Are you picking him to win by decision?

John Ruiz: I would probably say so. Who knows, Mayweather’s the type of guy that will run and at the same time throws some great combinations. You never know, Pacquiao might get caught but I would probably say unanimous decision. It will be a twelve round fight and it’s all going to be a Mayweather show.