Andy Ruiz Jr. shocked the world of boxing. But not his hometown.

Justin Gamber, a boxing coach in Las Vegas who has already trained Ruiz, remembers seeing him for the first time in the Wild Card. "I thought," Who is this guy? ", He said. "I was wondering if I could fight, that guy did not know."

Gamber said Ruiz had always been underestimated because of his appearance. "People think Andy is not fit, because of his bodily appearance," he said. "This guy probably works more than a lot of guys who look like, you know, physical specimens. Like a Roy Jones or a Ken Norton. But he will never have a nice body. It's just not in his DNA. "

But, said Gamber, "the boxers who knew him had a dangerous reputation."

Gamber added, "He looks awkward, like a chubby Mexican kid, but he's a dangerous guy."

Now that Ruiz is a champion, he has sought to make the silhouette of his body part of its star attraction.

"Most people can identify via Andy because of his appearance," said Manny Robles, his current coach. "Before the fight, nobody believed in Andy. Let's be real. The vast majority of people did not think he could win. Look at this guy, he's chubby, he's carrying that extra weight. He is a Mexican heavyweight. There has never been a Mexican heavyweight champion.

Ruiz Sr. said that he wanted to make a film about his son, and that the scenes and the scenario would not be difficult to imagine. Early in the morning, run to Griffith Park, Los Angeles, while training with Roach. The small apartment in Hollywood where he lived at that time, his father sleeping on the couch. Border crossings, street fighting.

The Imperial has planned a Mexico-themed parade and rally for Ruiz later this month. It is a big problem in a place rarely touched by fame.

Susan Paradis, executive director of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce, said Cher and Twins Bella, a former World Wrestling Entertainment label, were born in the area. "But a world heavyweight champion?" She said. "Not in my life."