Ruelas Undergoes 2nd Operation

The boxing career of once-beaten junior lightweight Gabriel Ruelas of Arleta has been dealt another setback.

The hard-punching Ruelas underwent major surgery Thursday on the elbow he fractured in his his most recent fight. A bone graft was taken from his hip and placed over the fracture on his right elbow.

The surgery, performed by noted orthopedist Dr. Tony Daly at Daniel Freeman Medical Center in Marina del Rey, lasted 3 1/2 hours.

According to Ruelas’ manager, Dan Goossen of North Hollywood, doctors discovered during recent examinations that the fracture had not healed properly.

Ruelas (21-1) sustained the broken elbow in April during a fight in Las Vegas against Jeff Franklin. Two days after the fight--his only loss--three screws were inserted into the broken bone and Ruelas was told that he would be out of action for six months. But Goossen said doctors told him that two of the three screws had broken shortly after being inserted.

On Thursday, Daly performed the bone graft and inserted three new screws into the bone.

Ruelas, who had been working out lightly in a gym and preparing for a return to the ring in January, will be unable to fight until at least May, 1991.

“We’re right back to where we were the day after the fight,” Goossen said. “This is a major setback. Gabriel was so happy to be back in the gym and he felt fine. He said there was no pain in the arm. The extension of his arm was about 80% of what it used to be, but he felt he was fine.”