New Heavyweight Boxing Champion: Everyone who thinks I’m not Mexican is wrong
Who is Latinx? A considerable amount of scholarship has focused on Latinx identity, especially in a subset of legal scholarship known as critical Latinx theory. The issue of Latinx identity recently came up in connection with the new heavyweight boxing champion.
A week ago, Andy Ruiz Jr. pulled a huge upset in knocking out International Boxing Federation champion Anthony Joshua. In the build up to the fight, the Los Angeles Times focused on how Ruiz would be the first boxer of Mexican descent to be heavyweight boxing champion. After Ruiz’s victory, iconic Mexican boxing champion, Julio Cesar Chavez expressed pride in Ruiz’s Mexican ancestry.
Apparently, some have questioned Ruiz’s Mexican bona fides. As ESPN reports, Ruiz has a message for those who question his Mexican roots and cast doubt over his claim to being the country’s first heavyweight world titleholder.
“Everyone who thinks I’m not Mexican simply because I was born in the United States is wrong,” Ruiz told ESPN. “I represented Mexico trying to go to the Olympics. I’m always fighting for the Imperial Valley [in Southern California where he lives] and Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. In my pro and amateur fights I’ve always mentioned Mexico. My mom and dad are from Mexicali, and I feel more Mexican than others who were born in Mexico because I fought for my race and for Mexico.”
Ruiz was born in Imperial, California, only miles from the U.S./Mexico border in California. His parents had immigrated to the United States from Mexico. His father is a former construction worker who started his own business flipping houses. Ruiz later worked for his father in construction before deciding to become a full-time boxer and starting his amateur career in Mexico. His grandfather owned a boxing gym in Mexicali that was used by featherweight Jorge Paez.
During his amateur career, Ruiz boxed to a 105–5 record. His 105 wins include two Mexican National Junior Olympics gold medals. Ruiz represented Mexico in two 2008 Beijing Olympic Games qualification tournaments. Ruiz’s parents were born in Mexico, which made him eligible to represent Mexico.
KJ