Ruelas-Paez Fight Postponed; Mexican Injured in Accident

Arleta lightweight boxer Rafael Ruelas’ scheduled Oct. 19 Forum match with Mexico’s Jorge Paez has been postponed because of injuries Paez suffered in a motorcycle accident, the Forum said late Tuesday.

Paez, who also performs as a clown in his family’s traveling circus, suffered numerous cuts and bruises when he fell from a motorcycle Friday in Mexicali, according to Forum spokesman John Beyrooty.

“Paez said he ‘laid down’ his bike to avoid being hit by a car that had run a stop sign, and hurt his lower back and shoulder,” Beyrooty said.

“It happened Friday and we didn’t learn about it until Monday.”

Paez flew to Los Angeles on Tuesday to be examined by Robert Karns, State Athletic Commission physician. Karns said that Paez’s injuries would prevent him from resuming training for at least two weeks.

No new date for the fight was set Tuesday. Ruelas-Paez was expected to draw the largest Forum boxing crowd of recent years.

For Ruelas (33-1), it was to have been his breakthrough bout, his first well-known opponent.

Paez (44-4-1), who once owned a piece of the world featherweight title, was hoping a victory over Ruelas would propel him into lightweight title contention.