Leo Ruiz wants to mix it up against the best fighters at 154 pounds.
Ruiz is coming off a one-sided unanimous decision over Alejandro Davila this past Saturday night at Sala Urbana in Naucalpan, Mexico.
Ruiz was the more effective fighter throughout the fight against Davila (23-6-2, 9 KOs) of Mexico City, being the more fluid boxer and varying his attack. Ruiz also dialed in on the body of Davila, who lost by knockout to Serhii Bohachuk in September 2020.
Scores were 100-90, 99-91, and 98-93 for Ruiz, who improved to 15-0, 8 knockouts.
In his previous fight on April 6, Ruiz defeated Oziel Santoyo by unanimous decision. On August 23 of last year, Ruiz defeated Raul Garcia by split-decision in a clash of unbeaten junior middleweight prospects.
Ruiz’s trainer, Robert Garcia, believes he is ready for that next step as well.
“I’m very pleased with his performance,” Garcia told The Ring on Tuesday. “Next fight will be in December and, after that, he will be ready to step it up and challenge contenders.”
The 25-year-old Ruiz, who is originally from Zacatecas, Mexico and now resides in San Bernardino, California, trains out of the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in nearby Riverside. Working with Garcia, and sparring some of the best fighters in the world over the last couple of years, have allowed Ruiz to develop his skill-set in the ring.
Ruiz has sparred against unbeaten junior middleweight contender Vergil Ortiz, Jr., former unified world junior welterweight titleholder Jose Ramirez, former world titleholder in multiple weight classes Mikey Garcia and fringe contender Josesito Lopez.
According to Garcia, he is one of the first to arrive at the gym and spends at least three hours working on fitness, footwork, and being more fluid with his combinations.
“He works really hard,” said Garcia.
Should he fight in December, as originally planned, Ruiz would have fought three times this year. He fought three times in 2023.
With the junior middleweight division being one of the most competitive in the sport, Ruiz hopes to continue making a name for himself and putting the top fighters in the weight class on notice.
“I’m trying my best to work myself up to be noticed as a contender, moving up to 10-rounders, and fighting good and experienced opponents,” Ruiz told The Ring last week.
“The statement that I (was) trying to make Saturday is just that I’m a fighter that has a future, to be a world champion, and (a) serious contender (who) is hungry to make it to the top.”
In the main event of the card that was promoted by Mariana Caballero, and streamed on DAZN, ESPN+ and TyC Sports, fringe welterweight contender Julio Luna of Gomez Palacio, Mexico knocked out Oliver Quintana in the fifth round. Luna, who improved to 23-1-2, 13 KOs, has won his last four fights since losing by decision 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 covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at santio89@yahoo.com
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