Ruiz still champion despite loss

[badjab]

I assume Ruiz bettors won't get a refund though

article from Max Boxing...

Team Ruiz was formally notified today by the New York State Athletic Commission that the April 30th World Boxing Association heavyweight championship fight between defending champion John "The Quietman" Ruiz and challenger James "Lights Out" Toney has been officially declared a "No Decision" because Toney violated the illegal substance rule.

Toney has been suspended 90 days and fined $10,000.

Team Ruiz is waiting for the WBA to enforce rule18:23 (3), disqualifying Toney and automatically reinstating Ruiz as world heavyweight champion.

"We are waiting for the WBA to immediately implemented its rule," Ruiz' attorney Anthony Cardinale explained. "It's as clear as it can be. We're glad the truth has come out and Johnny hasn't lost his championship."

WBA Rule 18:23
3. If the challenger wins the championship fight and his antid-rug test is positive and the losing champion has a negative result, then the champion shall retain his title in spite of the loss and the challenger shall be disqualified and shall not box for the title from the World Boxing Association during the next two (2) years and only after presentation of medical evidence that he has been rehabilitated.

"All I've ever heard was how bad Johnny Ruiz was for boxing," Ruiz' manager/head trainer Norman Stoney" Stone said. "Who's bad for boxing now? Toney's always talking about being a man. Well, he should be a man and admit what he did instead of making excuses. He can't talk trash about us anymore. Toney said he only fears God; he should fear the New York State Athletic Commission, too.

 

[THE KOD]

Toney reportedly tests positive for steroids
Associated Press
Posted: 1 hour ago

NEW YORK (AP) - James Toney's reign as a heavyweight boxing champion could be a brief one after a positive doping test following his WBA title fight with John Ruiz.

The New York State Athletic Commission on Wednesday asked that Toney's victory over Ruiz be changed to a no decision because of a violation of the commission's illegal substance policy. Toney was also suspended for 90 days, retroactive to April 30, and ordered to pay a $10,000 (?7,770) fine. He must submit himself for drug testing.

Athletic commission chairman Ron Scott Stevens made the request Wednesday to Fight Fax, which handles an official national list of suspensions for boxers.

Toney couldn't be reached for comment, and his promoter, Dan Goossen, didn't return calls.

Newsday and the Las Vegas Review-Journal quoted sources Wednesday as saying Toney tested positive for the steroid nandrolone after his win over Ruiz.

If Toney tested positive, he could be stripped of his title by the WBA. Under WBA regulations, the title would be given back to Ruiz.

Ruiz announced his retirement after losing a 12-round unanimous decision to Toney at Madison Square Garden, but on Monday said he wasn't going to retire after all and would fight again.

Toney became just the third former middleweight champion to win a piece of the heavyweight title when he won the decision over Ruiz. The 5-foot-9 Toney weighed 232 pounds for the fight.

Some states recently began testing fighters for steroids, mostly in title fights, but only one other fighter of note has tested positive. That was Fernando Vargas, who was fined $100,000 (?77,630) and suspended for nine months following his loss to Oscar De La Hoya in September 2002.

Unlike Toney, whose body was soft and had visible fat, Vargas was muscular and chiseled in his fight with De La Hoya.

Toney is one of four fighters who own various pieces of the heavyweight title
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[gardenweasel]

first the corrales /castillo controversy...now this......

more ruiz and stoney....

burn the fricking test results...


when i read this,i seriously considered giving up reading....

 

[frank s.]

Are you kidding, I would have loved to see Toney-Byrd. Now we will not. If this is absolutely true, then that fat mother----er needs to be banned from boxing. Jeez, Ruiz is STILL champ! It never ends.

 

[THE KOD]

told you guys that fight stunk.

guarantee you King knew about the roids.

 

[amhlilhaus]

this is disappointing. now toney joins another small club, men who won the heavy title (or a piece, for purists) and men who've been stripped for testing positive for drugs.