As Ruelas Waits, He’s Counted Out for the First Time

Rafael Ruelas, the previously unbeaten lightweight from Arleta, was knocked out by a heavy left hook from veteran Mauro Gutierrez of Tijuana in the second round Tuesday night at the Country Club in Reseda.

“I can’t believe what I did,” Ruelas said. “I just can’t believe it. I was waiting and listening and somehow just lost track of the count. I was not hurt at all. I was aware of everything. And then I just forgot to get up.”

Ruelas, who had been staring at and listening to his trainer, Joe Goossen, throughout the count, bolted from his one-knee stance only after he was counted out. He complained to no avail that he had beaten the count.

Ruelas, 135, fell to 27-1 and loses a scheduled Aug. 17 fight on national TV against former World Boxing Council featherweight champion Eusebio Pedroza.

Gutierrez, 134, is 45-15-5 with 28 knockouts.

Rafael’s older brother, Gabriel, hammered Aaron Lopez of San Antonio for 12 rounds to earn a decision and the North American Boxing Federation super-featherweight title. Gabriel Ruelas is 24-1. Lopez is 24-7-2.