John Ruiz made boxing history. Now Chelsea wants to make sure no one forgets it.

The city has opened a competition for artists to create a life-size bronze statue of the hometown champion. It will stand in John Ruiz Park, the pocket park that already carries his name.

A hometown champion

Ruiz was born in 1972 and grew up in Chelsea. The city's call for artists describes him as "one of Chelsea's most accomplished athletes." It points to his place in history as the first Latino heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

He won the World Boxing Association heavyweight title twice. Along the way, he beat fighters including Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman, Tony Tucker and Andrew Golota, according to the Boston Globe.

Chelsea dedicated John Ruiz Park in 2014 at the corner of Blossom Street and Washington Avenue. It was the first park in the city named for a Latino resident, the Globe reported. "Winning the championship is one thing, but the support from the city itself is even better and I will never forget that," Ruiz said at the time.

More recently, Ruiz served as marshal of Chelsea's 400th anniversary parade in 2025.

How the statue came about

The idea took shape this year. In March, the Chelsea Record reported that District 6 Councilor Giovanni Recupero had asked the city to look into a Ruiz statue. City Manager Fidel Maltez told the council the city would apply to the Community Preservation Committee for funding.

According to the call for artists, the statue is funded through the Community Preservation Act, with an award of up to $160,000. That covers everything from design and casting to the pedestal and a two-year warranty. The city will pay for installation separately.

What artists need to know

The competition is open to U.S.-based artists and teams 18 or older who have experience sculpting the human figure. Artists with ties to Chelsea, or to immigrant, working-class or environmental justice communities, will get preference.

The city set the application deadline for 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2026. Late or emailed submissions won't be accepted. An optional virtual information session was scheduled for Oct. 21.

A selection committee of city staff, community members, artists and recreation professionals will choose three to five finalists. Each finalist receives a stipend to build a small-scale model of their design.

Residents get a say

Residents will get to see the finalists' models and weigh in. Public comment is planned for January 2027, and the committee will consider that feedback before making its recommendation to the city manager and City Council.

The city expects to name the winning artist in February 2027 and install the statue in summer 2027.

The statue will be life-size or slightly larger and will sit on a granite or similar pedestal. Accessible signs beside it will tell Ruiz's story and his ties to Chelsea.

The city wants a design that reflects perseverance, excellence, tenacity, diversity and pride. It also hopes the piece will invite people to be active in the park.

What to watch

The park already has artwork honoring Ruiz. In March, Councilor Lisa Santagate said she hoped it would stay if a new statue is added. The city’s call for artists proposes removing the existing plexiglass standee, damaged interpretive sign and boxing-ring-style metal structure, then preserving them elsewhere in Chelsea or giving them to Ruiz.

Artists with questions can contact Delia Harrington, the city's manager of arts, culture and the creative economy, at dharrington@chelseama.gov or 617-466-4103.