Changing minds of the fans

by Michael Verville “Iʼm trying to change the minds of the fans one fight at a time.” These are the words that two time heavyweight champion, John Ruiz, kept saying in our interview yesterday. “I know I havenʼt been the type of guy to fill the arena, so to speak.” Ruiz has no delusions on how he is perceived. It is in any forum or article after one of his fights. He is not an action fighter. He has a hit and hold style that will lull any fighter to sleep, along with the audience. But Ruiz wants to change that perception. He has a new trainer, a new camp and a great attitude. “I want to do the exact opposite of what I used to do. Iʼm working on changing my style.” When we caught up with Ruiz he was at his home in Las Vegas with his wife Sahara. SB: Coming off your dominating win over Jameel McCline, where do you think this places you in the heavyweight landscape? John Ruiz: “I feel very confident. There have been no new names at the top of the division for a while. I want to go after the guys I havenʼt fought. I feel very good and I am willing to fight anybody.” SB: You looked fresh in your last fight nearly pitching a shut out. What have you done differently to put on such a performance? JR: “I feel rejuvenated. I have changed my camp. I have brought on Manny Siaca. I feel motivated for the first time in a while. I feel like a student again. Iʼm learning so much. With my old people I felt like I was teaching them. I just feel so good about the people I have around me.”