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03/14/2005 Archived Entry: "Ruiz: ‘I’ll Fight Toney April 30’"
Ruiz: ‘I’ll Fight Toney April 30’
Vitali Klitschko’s Injury Scuttles Hasim Rahman Bout but Ruiz is Ready to Go
LAS VEGAS—World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz wants to step up to fill the hole created by World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko’s thigh injury that has postponed his title defense opposing Hasim “The Rock” Rahman scheduled for April 30 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Ruiz (41-5-1, 28 KOs) thinks his fight with James “Lights Out” Toney, which has just been agreed to and now simply needs a date and location, works fine for him on April 30.
“If Vitali Klitschko’s recent injury prevents him from defending his WBC heavyweight belt on April 30, I am willing to put my WBA heavyweight title on the line against James Toney at Madison Square Garden and on HBO,” Ruiz said.
“I’ve been calling for a heavyweight tournament to help clean up the division, and a title defense by me on April 30 would help to bring us closer to the champion-against-champion matches the public wants to see.”
Ruiz’s promoter, Don King, said he supports Ruiz meeting Toney on April 30 in the Garden.
“I can make that happen,” King said. “We should not let April 30 go by without one of the world heavyweight titleholders defending his crown. My goal is have world title unification matches this year and I’m fighting to get it done.”
