MEXICAN featherweight Heriberto “Cuate” Ruiz is scheduled to land at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport today for their much-awaited grudge match with Filipino Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista.
Ruiz and Bautista will headline the PINOY PRIDE 6: Grudge Rematch mega boxing event at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on June 11.
Ruiz has reiterated his intention to defeat Bautista once again in front of his hometown crowd.
According to a press release sent by ALA Promotions, Ruiz is scheduled to arrive at 7:05 p.m. via Cathay Pacific flight CX 921 with his trainer Jose Heriberto Ruiz and handler Francisco Dominguez.
The Mexican, who knocked downed and beat Bautista via unanimous decision the first time they fought in Las Vegas in 2008 in the Ricky Hatton vs Pauli Malignaggi card, is confident coming into this fight, saying he will shame Bautista anew but this time in front of his countrymen.
Ruiz, who told Mexican compatriot Michael Lopez that he is excited to visit Cebu, says that he has seen Bautista’s last two fights on the Internet. Although he knocked out Alejandro Barrera in his last fight, he is not impressed. He described Barrera as “not a good fighter who is living off on his cousin’s name,” referring to Marco Antonio Barrera.
When told that Bautista was suffering from a hand injury during their first fight, Ruiz clarified: “He can make all the excuses he wants, I beat him already once, I felt his punches, it’s not that great. I can walk through his punches. As you saw in the first fight, he was knocked down to the floor. He should be a man and accept he got beat by a better fighter.”
Also arriving today is another Mexican fighter Juan Carlos Gallegos, who will be facing Filipino and WBO Youth Asia Pacific light welterweight champion Jason Pagara.
This will be the first time that the 19-year-old Pagara will be facing a Mexican.
The Filipino Prospect is on a mean streak, knocking out his last five opponents in less than three rounds. /Correspondents Salven Lagumbay and Dale Rosal