Ruelas Reloads, Wins Gutierrez Rematch

A year ago, the most significant number in a bout between lightweights Rafael Ruelas of Arleta and Mauro Gutierrez of Mexico was 10. Ruelas, knocked down in that brawl, was counted out because he could not hear the referee.

Tuesday night in the rematch, the most significant figure was 300. That was the estimated number of punches Ruelas landed to Gutierrez’s head en route to a unanimous 10-round decision at the Hollywood Palladium.

The victory avenged Ruelas’ only loss as a pro. Ruelas (32-1), ranked seventh by the World Boxing Council, used a relentless, two-fisted attack to punish the aggressive but outgunned Gutierrez (47-17-5) of Los Mochis, Mexico.

Last year’s bout ended when Ruelas, knocked down by a left hook, waited on one knee as trainer Joe Goossen tried to pick up the referee’s count for him. Both Ruelas and Goossen missed it, however, and it went into the record book as a knockout.

In the rematch, Ruelas, 21, dominated nearly every round, pounding a strong jab and heavy rights off Gutierrez’s head almost at will. Only twice--in the second and eighth rounds--did Gutierrez score heavily, and both times he did it with hard body punches.

In a co-main event, Tim Littles (18-0) of Flint, Mich., defeated Frank Liles (21-1) of Sherman Oaks in a 12-round super middleweight bout. Littles, trained by Lou Duva, retained his U.S. Boxing Assn. title with the unanimous decision.