ESCALANTE TO DEFEND IBA TITLE AGAINST VICTOR RUIZ ON APRIL 5
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 12 Mar 2014
Super Flyweight Champion, Bruno Escalante(12-1-1, 6 KOs), will defend his title against Victor Ruiz (12-2, 9 KOs) on April 5 in the main event of a Don Chargin Productions and Paco Presents fight card at the Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, California.
Escalante who is from Cebu City but now fights out of Redwood, California scored a devastating 1st round knockout of Mexican veteran Lorenzo Trejo in a non-title bout to kick start his 2014 campaign.
Mario Serrano reports that Escalante knows he's in a tough fight, but feels confident he'll come out victorious. He said "Ruiz has a lot of power so I will have to be very alert with every punch he throws? adding that ?these are the type of fights that bring out the best in me. I've worked really hard to get to this point and I'm not going to fail. I'm going to dictate the tone of this fight and show Ruiz that I mean business."
Ruiz, of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, has looked impressive in winning nine of his last ten bouts. His most recent win came against Jaime Diaz in September of 2013. Although he hasn't faced the level of competition that Escalante has, Ruiz promises to bring the fight to Bruno.
Serrano quoted Ruiz who said "Escalante has never been in the ring with a fighter like me. I'm going to go right at him and bring a lot of pressure. I'm always going for the knockout and if I have Escalante hurt I'm going for the kill. I'm going to make it a war!"
For his part Escalante is on a seven-fight winning streak and his confidence is at an all time high as he looks to continue on his path to a major payday. A win against Ruiz will get him closer to a big-time fight.
While conceding that the IBA is a fringe organization outside such established pro boxing bodies as the WBC, WBO, IBF and WBA, Escalante said he has ?dreams of making it to the top. A victory against a tough opponent like Ruiz will get me one step closer to that big fight. My trainers Brian Schwartzand Mike Bazzel have a nice game plan that I will execute. I'll be ready for anything Ruiz brings. The time is now to step up my game and take my career to the next level."
Both Schwartz and Bazzel work with Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire, the our division world champion who will chase a fifth world title when he battles IBF featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa in Macau on May 31.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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