South Brunswick 3rd Grade Boxer Packs A Mean Punch

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Eight-year-old boxer Ruby Tucker loves watching "Cobra Kai" on Netflix, and her favorite food is chicken with rice and pickles.

But the 47-pound, 4-foot-tall girl wonder from South Brunswick floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. Trained by her father, Kijuan Tucker, Ruby has astonished many with her speed, punching and ducking techniques in the boxing ring.

Her training videos have made her an internet sensation, with viewers comparing her to Claressa Shields and Laila Ali.

“I got Ruby started around 3 years old," Kijuan Tucker told Patch. "It wasn't for her to become a boxer or anything — I just wanted her to have some defense. But she just excelled at that very quickly.”

When the pandemic hit, Kijuan Tucker was out of work, and Ruby spent a lot of time at home because she attended virtual school. The father-daughter duo spent a lot of time training. Inspired by Ruby’s talent in boxing, Kijuan Tucker founded the Zilla Boxing Club in Elizabeth, where he also trains other children.

A typical training day for Ruby begins at 6:30 a.m. After she wakes up, she has a healthy breakfast, then spars with her dad.

“We train about three days a week, for three to four hours a day,” Kijuan Tucker said. "I don’t have a special diet for her. She's still a growing kid. So I let her be a kid as much as possible. She trains a good amount. She's in very good shape. So she burns off everything she eats anyway.”

Ruby now has more than 50,000 followers on Instagram. Her training videos get tens of thousands of views. Ruby and Kijuan even appeared on ESPN, "Good Morning America," "The Steve Harvey Show" and other media. She is the brand ambassador for Aussie Hair Kids and Cleto Reyes boxing.

“I tell Ruby: This is destined. This is supposed to happen to you. Embrace it. But be humble,” Kijuan Tucker said. “She gets a lot of attention, but there are other kid athletes who have done more in sports who don't get that attention. Sometimes it invites negative comments. This is my child; those comments get under my skin sometimes. But I stay focused and block all the noise.”

Ruby’s list of inspirations is long.

“Who inspires me the most is Muhammad Ali and Laila Ali. And Laila reached out to me,” Ruby said.

The retired professional boxer visited Ruby at the gym and gave her autographed gloves, T-shirts and a birthday card.

“She said she was proud of me, and that she knows how much work goes into it. She wants me to just continue to push forward,” Ruby said.

Ruby's friends at Brooks Crossing Elementary School watch her videos and ask her for boxing tips. “I tell them, but they don't use it. Because it's school, you’re not supposed to be fighting in school,” the third-grader said.

Kijuan Tucker credits Ruby’s mother for helping her maintain a perfect balance between boxing and studies.

“It takes teamwork to maintain that balance. Her mom deserves all the credit for making sure all of her schoolwork is done. And she handles all the other stuff. I had the easy job,” Kijuan Tucker said.

Ruby is currently training hard to participate in a national tournament on April 23 in Cleveland, Ohio.

She is motivated and focused. But for her, the best thing about boxing, training and making media appearances is the family bonding.

“My dad loves me a lot, and I get to spend a lot of time with him.”

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

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