Definitely a FOTY type fight that ends with a KO but not sure which way it would go. IMO, Corrales was a bit more talented but leaning slightly towards Ruelas!
Corrales was a better fighter and would most likely stop him. Gabriel was the better Ruelas brother IMO. The Garcia tragedy ****ed up his head. I thought Ruelas was pretty impressive against Leija.
Dumb move by his team to pick A. Nelson as his opponent right after the Garcia fight! On Rafael vs Chico, had the feeling 99% would pick Corrales!
Ruelas was a good puncher,great work rate,stamina,ballsy but he was also slow,not so hot chin,and leaky defense...... SOmetimes even looked clumsy but, he at what he did do well he made it work for him and has a few impressive wins on his resume... His fight with the skilled,good punchingPendleton looked like ti was gonna be a mismatch the first couple rounds.. But Ruelas survived and gutted his way out the early rounds in outhustliing pendleton and having his way later on.... Also impressed with his exicitn war and ko over a then primeJorge Paez....Even when he was washed up he managed to rock Tszyu and have in trouble for a moment.... ODLH was all wrong for him,i knew it would end early. Like COrrales , Ruelas was real tall for his weight,, but like to fight short and on the inside.... Would be exciting for while it lasted.... BUt although similar in style COrrales was more talented had faster hands,Better skills, and although Ruelas could punch id give the edge to DIego. there too.. DIego went down and was kod but usually accumaltion..RUelas went down quite a few times dont think his chin was that good it was his heart that got him up.. And even if he tried to outgut and pressure (like he did vs Pendelton) he is going up against a legend in that department. Exciting and RUelas does have a punchers chance,,,,BUt 8 x out of 10 Corrales beats himtoo it.... RUelas was a slow starter and went down early alot.. Theres a chance Corrles end this early... BUt if this goes past 3 or 4 rounds Ruelas might give Corrales a war and a scare or 2...BUt even then Corrales wins...... BUt I THink his brother Gabe Pre Garcia fight,,, would have but a whupping on COrrales,,, So long as Ruelas dont get to gun ho,and get caught by one of Corrales miracle shots... But more times than Not Gabe beats him... He had so much more talent than Rafa....Too bad the Garcia fight mesed withhis head, he looked like ayoung Duran when he beat then prime and excellent Jl champ Jesse Leija.
If his head was ok.... I think he would have beat Nelson... A few fights before a less experienced Ruelas fought Nelson real close and lost a split....After that Gabe improved and went from talented young up and comer, to elite guy and a pfp ranking.. In that fight though he was easily kod said he saw Garcias ghost in the ring.. YEy Rafa was like a poor mans Corrales.
Corrales beat Castillo ,Casmayor ,Freitas ,Gainer and Manfredy. Please dont act like he didnt beat good competition as your comment seems to elude to.
