CONFIDENT RUIZ: I AM GOING TO KNOCK BAUTISTA OUT
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 07 Jun 2011
CEBU CITY -- Heriberto 'Cuate' Ruiz, who came from the famous Mexican boxing state of Sinaloa, has promised to knock Boom- Boom Bautista out during the Mexican's arrival press conference held at the Moon Cafe Tuesday afternoon. Ruiz and Bautista will meet in a rematch this coming Saturday for the IBF International Featherweight title at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Lahug, this city.
Ruiz was the second fighter to beat the man from Candijay, Bohol when Ruiz dominated Bautista in eight rounds during their first encounter at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Nov. 22, 2008. Ruiz won by unanimous decision with runaway scores of 80-70, 78-72 and 77-73. Bautista's first defeat came at the hands former Mexican world champion Daniel Ponce de Leon who knocked Bautista out in the first round on Aug. 11, 2007 in Sacramento, California shattering the shield of invincibility for the previously feared Boholano knockout artist.
Ruiz, when asked, doesn't see anything special on Boom-Boom's power and told the gathered Cebu media, "I am not afraid fighting in Bautista's hometown. If I was afraid I won't be here," adding "I am going to knock him (Bautista) out."
Ruiz, who had two months preparation for this fight, likes Boom-Boom's aggressiveness in the ring as "it fits perfectly for my counter-punching style."
Ruiz sees the importance of Saturday's fight as a ticket to another world title fight. Ruiz's first win over Bautista eventually netted him a title eliminator fight against Steve Molitor of Canada and a title fight against Jackson Asiku of Australia. Ruiz lost both fights however. After the loss to Asiku, Ruiz fought five more times winning four and losing to the undefeated Californian Rico Ramos.
Bautista meanwhile was sidelined for a year after the Ruiz fight as he had a surgery after it was found out he had a rotten bone in his left hand, an injury that was traced during his sparring session with Filipino champion Gerry Penalosa two weeks before Bautista's fight with Ponce de Leon in 2007. Bautista racked four straight victories after his return in October 2009 and Saturday's fight against Ruiz is a major step towards redemption for the Boholano bomber who felt that his two losses was largely due to his hand injury.
Accompanying Ruiz to the boxing mecca in the Philippines were his father/trainer Heriberto Siulok Ruiz and his manager Fernando Dominguez.
Also present during the presscon was Mexican Juan Carlos Gallegos who will go up against rising Filipino light welterweight Jason Pagara.
Ruiz and Gallegos will show their wares when they will conduct a public workout at the ParkMall in Mandaue City starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 7.
L-R: Heriberto Siulok Ruiz (father/trainer), Ruiz, Fernando Dominguez (manager) and Juan Carlos Gallegos during Tuesday's press conference at the Mooon Cafe at IT Park in Lahug, Cebu City. Photos by Dong Secuya.
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