Leo Ruiz needs to combine it up towards the very best fighters at 154 kilos.
Ruiz is coming off a one-sided unanimous choice over Alejandro Davila this previous Saturday night time at Sala Urbana in Naucalpan, Mexico.
Ruiz was the more practical fighter all through the struggle towards Davila (23-6-2, 9 KOs) of Mexico Metropolis, being the extra fluid boxer and ranging his assault. Ruiz additionally dialed in on the physique of Davila, who misplaced by knockout to Serhii Bohachuk in September 2020.
Scores have been 100-90, 99-91, and 98-93 for Ruiz, who improved to 15-0, 8 knockouts.
In his earlier struggle on April 6, Ruiz defeated Oziel Santoyo by unanimous choice. On August 23 of final 12 months, Ruiz defeated Raul Garcia by split-decision in a conflict of unbeaten junior middleweight prospects.
Ruiz’s coach, Robert Garcia, believes he’s prepared for that subsequent step as nicely.
“I’m more than happy together with his efficiency,” Garcia instructed The Ring on Tuesday. “Subsequent struggle shall be in December and, after that, he shall be able to step it up and problem contenders.”
The 25-year-old Ruiz, who’s initially from Zacatecas, Mexico and now resides in San Bernardino, California, trains out of the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in close by Riverside. Working with Garcia, and sparring a number of the finest fighters on the earth over the past couple of years, have allowed Ruiz to develop his skill-set within the ring.
Ruiz has sparred towards unbeaten junior middleweight contender Vergil Ortiz, Jr., former unified world junior welterweight titleholder Jose Ramirez, former world titleholder in a number of weight courses Mikey Garcia and fringe contender Josesito Lopez.
Based on Garcia, he is without doubt one of the first to reach on the health club and spends no less than three hours engaged on health, footwork, and being extra fluid together with his combos.
“He works actually laborious,” stated Garcia.
Ought to he struggle in December, as initially deliberate, Ruiz would have fought 3 times this 12 months. He fought 3 times in 2023.
With the junior middleweight division being one of the vital aggressive within the sport, Ruiz hopes to proceed making a reputation for himself and placing the highest fighters within the weight class on discover.
“I’m making an attempt my finest to work myself as much as be seen as a contender, transferring as much as 10-rounders, and combating good and skilled opponents,” Ruiz instructed The Ring final week.
“The assertion that I (was) making an attempt to make Saturday is simply that I’m a fighter that has a future, to be a world champion, and (a) critical contender (who) is hungry to make it to the highest.”
In the principle occasion of the cardboard that was promoted by Mariana Caballero, and streamed on DAZN, ESPN+ and TyC Sports activities, fringe welterweight contender Julio Luna of Gomez Palacio, Mexico knocked out Oliver Quintana within the fifth spherical. Luna, who improved to 23-1-2, 13 KOs, has gained his final 4 fights since dropping by choice to then-unbeaten Giovani Santillan in August 2022.
Quintana, who resides in Mexicali, Mexico, falls to 21-3, 16 KOs.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He could be reached at [email protected]
