Welterweight Angel Ruiz (16-0, 12 KOs), coming off a first-round knockout win in June, steps back into the main event this Friday, Oct. 18th, on a Thompson Boxing shpw at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif. Ruiz, 22, faces fellow southpaw Javier Flores (14-2, 12 KOs) in the eight-round showcase fight. The Mexican-born Ruiz, who now lives in Los Angeles and trains out of the Maywood Boxing Gym, has recently began to gain exposure in the American market after breaking out from the Tijuana (Mexico) boxing scene. Five out of his last six fights have taken place from the greater Los Angeles area. He rides a five-fight knockout win streak into his scrap with Flores, who is perhaps the toughest test of his young career.
"It's a big fight for me," remarked Ruiz. "I know a lot of people are interested in seeing what I can do against a tough opponent and I'm ready to show everyone that I have what it takes to get to the top."
Ruiz shinned in his last fight by dispatching veteran Miguel Zamudio (44-14-1) in the first round. In that fight, he tagged Zamudio with a left hand from his southpaw stance. He quickly followed up with a bevy of punches that overwhelmed Zamudio. "I did what I came here to do," said Ruiz after the fight. "I'm just happy I was able to finish this early and give the fans something to talk about."
Ruiz came out fast as lightening, as his nickname, "Relampago," suggests. "He looked really sharp and in command right from the start," said Doug Fischer, TB Presents livestream color commentator. "I wanted to see more of him, but that's what happens when you end a fight early."
Tickets are available for purchase at ThompsonBoxing.com, or by calling 714-935-0900. All fights will be streamed live on TB Presents: Path to Glory via our Facebook page, YouTube channel and ThompsonBoxing.com. Beto Duran will handle blow-by-blow duties, while Doug Fischer provides expert, color commentary. The livestream starts at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET.
MORE BOUTS
In the co-feature, lightweight George Acosta (7-1, 1 KO) of Whittier, Calif. faces Roberto Almazan (9-12, 4 KOs) of Brownsville, Tex. in a six-round fight...
Junior welterweight Alec Zavala (3-0, 2 KOs) of Fontana, Calif. meets Marquese Steward (1-1) Pflugerville, Tex. (six rounds)...
Junior lightweight Chris Crowley (1-0-1) of Santa Ana, Calif. fights Luis Alvarado (1-0) of Pasco, Wash. (four rounds)...
Canadian lightweight Golden Garcia (11-0-1, 6 KOs) meets Mexico's Hector Garcia (14-7-2, 8 KOs) in a fight scheduled for six...
Super bantamweight Ivan Zarate of San Pedro, Calif. makes his professional debut against an opponent to be named later (four rounds).
The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at 909-937-0900.
