 |
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Ruiz who resides in Chelsea, Massachusetts is the new WBA Heavyweight Champion and the first Latino to win that title was welcomed by people of all cultures including many "Boricuas" waving flags, playing bongos, congós and pleneras. Ruiz was all smiles upon arrival and raised the WBA title up high to show the cheering crowd. Many of his friends and family member gave him hugs and shook his hand. Accompanied by his manager Shelly Stone and wife Sahara, Ruiz got on a small podium for a brief press conference. "I still can't believe it" said Ruiz. Manager Stone said, "Many didn't think we couldn't do it. With
this victory we put an exclamation point on the boxing career of
Ruiz." Roy Valentin, a childhood friend of Ruiz and an administrative assistant for Chelsea city manager Robert "Jay'' Ashe, said the victory was a big boost for Chelsea. "I'm proud as a resident of Chelsea, as a Latino, but also as a friend,'' Valentin said. "This is good for a lot of kids. It's a pleasure to see a humble and hard-working person like him become a champion. If you have high hopes and big dreams of becoming a champion, they should take one look at Johnny.'' Manuel Ortiz, a resident of Chelsea felt that a Latino heavyweight
champion was well overdue, "It's about time that someone in our race has made it as a
heavyweight.'' "I hope it's the beginning of many more."
|
March 9, 2001 -- After
a short flight delay, John Ruiz arrived at Logan International Airport and
got a big celebration and welcome from the hometown people of Boston.|
Web site design, development and maintenance
by |
