Ruelas Is a Knockout in New Class

It may not have been a big payday fight, but former lightweight champion Rafael Ruelas of Sylmar did not have any complaints after knocking out Michael Walsh of Redondo Beach in the second round of a junior-welterweight bout Wednesday night at the Beverly Hilton.

Fighting before an estimated crowd of 350--paying $150 for the six-fight card and three-course dinner--Ruelas made the most of the relaxed atmosphere as he seeks another championship fight.

“I was not concerned at all with [the site] because a ring is a ring,” said Ruelas, who knocked Walsh down twice in the first round and once in the second before the fight was stopped 2:06 into the round.

Ruelas, who improved to 45-3 with 36 knockouts, simply overmatched Walsh, who dropped to 16-4-3. Ruelas, who lost his International Boxing Federation belt to Oscar De La Hoya last year, showed more strength and power than he did as a lightweight and hopes to get a title shot in the 140-pound division within a year.

“Being at 140, I feel a little bit stronger now,” said Ruelas, scheduled to fight Livingstone Bramble Aug. 23 in Atlantic City, N.J.

Meanwhile, heavyweight Eric “Butterbean” Esch worked overtime with a torn right biceps before stopping William Harris with 13 seconds left in the fourth and final round.

“I still threw a lot of punches,” said Esch, who improved to 24-1 but will be out at least four months.

In other bouts, Carlos Hernandez of Bellflower (22-1-1) knocked out Isagani Pumar of Stockton (26-8-2) in the 12th round of a super-featherweight fight; Lance Whitaker of Van Nuys won his pro debut with a first-round knockout of Johnny Keys in a heavyweight matchup; bantamweight Arnulfo Bravo of Van Nuys knocked out Dario Lopez of Los Angeles in the second round; and Jesus Vega won a decision over Rene Hernandez of Los Angeles in a super-bantamweight fight.