| BoxingTalk Story |
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01/09/2005
By Scott Shaffer
WBA heavyweight titlist John Ruiz has reportedly retained a law firm and sent promoter Don King notice that he has terminated their relationship. Sources who have seen the letter informed Boxingtalk that in addition to cancelling their promotional relationship, the letter claims that King owes Ruiz at least $8.8 million dollars. The letter calculated that figure from King's alleged failure to provide Ruiz with the proper number of bouts called for under the contract, to pay Ruiz his minimum purses and training expenses and for fraudulent misrepesentations in connection with Ruiz's win over Fres Oquendo. Ruiz lost his last bout to James Toney, but was reinstated as the WBA champion when Toney tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Phone calls to longtime Ruiz co-manager Tony Cardinale were not immediately returned. Remember where you heard it first!!
