Team Ruiz collectively feels that James Toney's listless performance last Saturday night against Hasim Rahman strengthen former two-time world heavyweight champion John "The Quietman" Ruiz' lawsuit against Toney.

"Toney looked sluggish against Rahman," Ruiz said. "He didn't have the same energy he did against me, but that's what steroids do. Toney had a lot of energy right through the last round in our fight. If I fought that Toney (last Saturday versus Rahman), I guarantee it would have been a completely different fight. He had to cheat to beat me."

Last November, Ruiz' attorneys filed a lawsuit based on Toney's use of illegal performance-enhancing steroids in advance of the Ruiz-Toney April 30, 2005 title fight. In the lawsuit, Ruiz claimed that Toney's use of Nandrolone, one of the most powerful performance-enhancing substances available, dramatically enhanced Toney's ability to fight by artificially augmenting his strength, speed and power.

Ruiz believes he lost that fight as a direct result of Toney's doping. The judges' decision in favor of Toney on April 30 was overturned by the World Boxing Association and ruled a "no contest" after Toney's drug test subsequently came back positive for illegal steroids.

Several days after the April 30 fight, Toney's mandatory drug test came back with a positive result, reflecting the presence of Nandrolone in Toney's bloodstream. Use of Nandrolone is illegal under federal law, and Nandrolone is classified as a Schedule II drug under federal laws. On May 16, 2005, the WBA sanctioned Toney for his illegal use of steroids, precluding him
from fighting for a WBA title for two years. The New York State Athletic Commission also levied their maximum applicable sanction against Toney, which included a $10,000 fine.

"A videotape of Toney's fight against Rahman will be presented as Exhibit B," Ruiz' legal advisor Atty. Anthony Cardinale explained. "Exhibit A is a tape of Ruiz-Toney. Toney had less than six weeks to prepare for his fight against Johnny, yet, he showed a lot more energy, especially late in the fight, than he did at any point against Rahman. I wouldn't be surprised if Toney was drug tested during training camp for last Saturday's fight. He was calm at the weigh-in and press conferences, unlike his outrageous steroid rage outbursts leading up to his fight against Johnny."

Since his fight against Toney, Ruiz has called for boxing organizations to improve their standards, testing protocols and penalties to prevent and deter the use of anabolic steroids and other banned performance enhancing substances.

Ruiz is the first and only world heavyweight champion of Hispanic heritage. He has beaten former world champions Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman, and Tony Tucker, as well as top 10 contenders Andrew Golota, Fres Oquendo and Kirk Johnson.

Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Toney is Ruiz’ Mandatory.

  

  The World Boxing Association has notified Team Ruiz that James “Lights Out” Toney (68-4-2, 43 KOs) is the mandatory contender for WBA heavyweight champion >
  
  

• Ruiz Officially Reinstated.

  Team Ruiz was notified yesterday by the World Boxing Association that it has reinstated John "The Quietman" Ruiz as WBA heavyweight champion, effectively immediately. WBA letter: "Based on the actions >
  
  

• Toney to be Stripped?

  A serious rumor is abound that newly crowned WBA heavyweight champion James Toney has tested positive for a performance enhancing substance in the wake of his historic title winning effort. >
  
  

• Ruiz Spanks Toney.

  Two-time World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John "The Quietman" Ruiz has one question for his mandatory contender, James "Lights Out" Toney: "Are you up to the challenge of fighting the >
  
  

• Toney Not Challenging Ban.

  Now former WBA heavyweight champion James "Lights Out" Toney released several statements over the last few days concerning the indictment that he was found with banned substances in his system >
  
  

• Ruiz-Toney Quotes.

  JOHN RUIZ (41-5-1, 28 KOs) "I am the best; there is no doubt about it. I have fought everybody. I am the real heavyweight champion. I take my hat >
  
  

• Toney Suspension Lifted.

  Heavyweight fighter James Toney, who lost his WBA title after a post-fight urine test revealed traces of steroids, will be eligible to return to the ring on July 30 after >
  
  

• SaddoBoxing’s Ruiz-Toney Countdown.

  Hello fight fans and thank you so much for joining us today here at SaddoBoxing.com where we aim to bring you the best quality boxing coverage all the time and >
  
  

• Toney-Ruiz Fight Declared No Contest.

  Team Ruiz was formally notified today by the New York State Athletic Commission that the April 30th World Boxing Association heavyweight championship fight between defending champion John "The Quietman" Ruiz >
  
  

• “Lights Out” Returns.

  A date is yet to be disclosed but the word is that former three weight world champion and current heavyweight contender James "Lights Out" Toney will return to action very >
  
  

---