WBA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
JOHN RUIZ VS. JAMES TONEY

JOHN RUIZ

SPECIAL NOTE:  John Ruiz announced in his locker room at Madison Square  Garden after the fight that he has decided to retire from boxing.

“He’s a tough guy to fight.  He moves around a lot.  I connected a lot.  I finished stronger and I won this fight.”


JAMES TONEY

“Yes I knew I would see this day.  I only had five weeks to prepare for this fight.  If I had more, I would have knocked him out.

“I am the WBA champion and soon to be undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

“John is an average fighter.

“I was hoping to jab and grab, then give him an uppercut and give him a case of whiplash.  He wasn’t in that good of shape and I wasn’t in my best shape.

“All injuries are out of my mind.  I buckled down and worked through it.

“I did just what I said I would do.  Get rid of him from the heavyweight division.  Don King will throw him in the trash can where he belongs.  He gave me the opportunity and I did what I had to do.

“I only had four and a half weeks to prepare for this fight.  I do what I do.  I didn’t expect much from John because he is an average fighter.  John Ruiz is stupid.  He can’t change his style.  He only knows how to fight one way.  I take my hat off to him for giving me the opportunity.  I want Klitschko.  I will fight anyone anywhere at anytime.  I don’t duck anyone.”                                                

4-30-2005