
WBO APPOINTS CELESTINO RUIZ AS REFEREE FOR THE NIETES TITLE DEFENSE AGAINST RAUL ?RAYITO? GARCIA ON MAY 28
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 19 May 2016

The World Boxing Organization has appointed Celestino Ruiz of Chicago as the referee for WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes? title defense against Mexico?s Raul ?Rayito? Garcia in Bacolod City on May 28.
WBO Asia Pacific head Leon Panoncillo informed The Standard that Ruiz who had previously served as third man in the ring when Nietes demolished former WBC Silver champion Sammy Gutierrez in three rounds at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on November 30, 2013.
Ruiz has refereed two, four round bouts this year and came under fire from Ted Sares on boxing.com for the manner in which he handled what Sares described as ?a historical and wonderful fight between Kohei Kono and Koki Kameda? on October 16, 2015.
Sares reported that the bout was ?tainted by the overbearing referee Celestino Ruiz when he hit a new low in the 7th round by threatening to stop the fight if either fighter committed another foul? saying that Ruiz ?may have cemented his inglorious place in the Boxing Hall of Shame with that one.?
However, the WBO clearly has faith in the ability of Ruiz and his appointment hasn?t been questioned either by the Nietes camp or that of challenger Raul ?Rayito? Garcia, the identical twin brother of Ramon Garcia Hirales from whom Nietes won the title in Bacolod City on October 8, 2011.
The judges named by the WBO are veteran Robert Hoyle of Las Vegas, Nevada, Mike Fitzgerald of Wisconsin and Thailand?s Pinit Prayabsab.
The WBO supervisor is veteran referee Genaro ?Gino? Rodriguez.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
Sat, 19 Apr 2025WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Weights From Washington, PA
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Jerald Into Advances in WBC Boxing Grand Prix with Dominant Win Over Ahmad Jones
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Set for Homecoming Title Defense against Edwin De Los Santos at Norfolk's Scope Arena
Sat, 19 Apr 2025JAKE PAUL vs JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR / ZURDO RAMIREZ vs YUNIEL DORTICOS JUNE 28 in ANAHEIM
Sat, 19 Apr 2025June 8: Junto Nakatani-Ryosuke Nishida Bantamweight Unification Showdown Headlines Tokyo Super Card Streaming LIVE on ESPN+
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Thursday’s Action at the 2025 USA Boxing International Open Concludes
Sat, 19 Apr 2025H2O Sylve Returns to the Ring April 26th At Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta Amado Vargas Is Co-Main Live On BLK PRIME
Sat, 19 Apr 2025FM Arca bounces back, defeats IM Laohawirapap of Thailand in 6th round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 19 Apr 2025SMITH VS. GERMAIN WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
Fri, 18 Apr 2025WBO #2 WBA #2 Mikiah Kreps on Weight in Seneca Niagara
Fri, 18 Apr 2025UFC® RETURNS TO PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY WITH BLOCKBUSER CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER
Fri, 18 Apr 2025AMATEUR HEAVYWEIGHT SENSATION LEO ATANG SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
Fri, 18 Apr 2025