Mexico, .- The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, quoted the pugilist Andy Ruiz Jr., world heavyweight champion as an example of struggle, dedication and perseverance during the meeting held on Tuesday at the National Palace of the capital from the country.
“It’s all a character, it comes from below, it’s the product of effort, of sacrifice, of the struggle of many Mexicans, it shows what perseverance, stubbornness is worth, they can shoot you and you have to get up until you succeed. that’s what my namesake did, “said Obrador through a video during the interview with Ruiz Jr.
Ruiz “won” his reception with the president after June 1 became the first boxer of Mexican origin to win a world heavyweight title by defeating the British Anthony Joshua at the “Madison Square Garden” in New York .
To recognize Ruiz’s sporting achievement and career, López Obrador presented him with a 500-peso ($ 26) commemorative note from Banco de México, with a printing date of July 1, 2018, the day on which the elections were held. those that came out triumphant and that also has written the letters A and R, the initials of the monarch.
In his turn, Ruiz, 29, full weight champion of the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO), gave Lopez Obrador a copy of one of his belts in addition to golden gloves with his signature.
“I wanted to bring my dad and mom, to my team and do something big, I made history for Mexico and I want them to know that I am Mexican too and I am proud to be here, very happy,” the California-born fighter said before his meeting. but who grew up in Mexicali, Baja California.
Ruiz Jr. reiterated his pride in feeling Mexican by living one of the most desired moments of his life when crowned champion and do it under the banner of a country that did not see him born but today receives him as one of his most beloved children.
The fighter, who was very close to representing Mexico at the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, dreamed of being able to visit the president of Mexico and this day he finally made it happen.
“I do not want to go to the White House, I want to visit the president of Mexico,” he said elated after the triumph.
In an interview with Efe, Ruiz said that when referring to “my country” the world champion does not speak of the United States, where he was born, grew up and lives with his family but speaks of Mexico, the nation in which he trained from the six years.
“If you’re Mexican, you teach your children that they are Mexican, no matter where they were born,” he said.
At the meeting, Ruiz attended with his father Andrés Ruiz, his trainer Manny Robles and the president of the WBA, Gilberto Mendoza.
In the afternoon, the boxer offered a press conference at the facilities of the company Television Azteca, where he was also recognized as life champion of the National Boxing Commission in Mexico.
Ruiz said that in December the rematch match will be held against Joshua and will later seek to face the American Deontay Wilder, heavyweight champion of the World Boxing Council.
“It will be a big fight because everyone is afraid of Wilder because he hits hard, but I also hit hard,” said the boxer.
His father and trainer ratified that they will ask for bags of up to 50 million dollars for those who want to challenge the world champion under the argument of being able to help more Mexicans. (EFE)
