This Friday at the Leagues Club in Parramatta, NSW featherweights Jackson Asiku and Heriberto Ruiz tangle for the vacant IBO crown in what should be a thrilling contest.
Asiku, 25-3 (13), comes into this one riding a 14 fight win streak over the last five years and during that time the 31 year old native born Ugandan has held the Commonwealth, Australian, African Boxing Union and IBF Australasian titles.
The Adelaide resident has picked up notable wins over Gairy st. Clair, Jamie McKeever and Marc Callaghan during that stretch but now has to come to terms with his most experienced opponent to date.
32 year old Ruiz, 42-8-2 (24), is a textbook Mexican warrior who has fought just about everyone at bantam and super bantam over the course of his 15 year career, losing only to ex-world champions Steve Molitor and Eric Morel over his last nine contests.
The Los Mochis native will be stepping to to featherweight for the first time in his career however and that will almost certainly be a factor in this hotly anticipated clash.
While Ruiz has won regional belts at bantam and super bantam, he's dropped a world title bout to Rafael Marquez and two world title eliminators, falling short against Molitor and Irene Pacheco since 2004.
Once the bell rings on Friday, Asiku must establish a consistant offense and push Ruiz back while conserving energy to cope with the Mexican's inevitable late rally. Any lack of focus or waste of energy will be exploited by Ruiz, who will look to get under Asiku's jab to force a bruising clsoe quarters contest where he can land the traditional Mexican left hook to the body.
It's a real 50-50 contest and one not to miss!
Share/Save
| (0) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Bruce Dingo
Discuss in Boxing Forum
Related Boxing Articles...
There was a good show at Wyong Rugby League Club in Kanwal, NSW on Friday with some big names on the bill including William Kickett, Jackson Asiku and Fatai Onikeke.
Promising >
Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Harvey Sports International's chief Kevin Houston announced >
Last week at the WBA Convention in the Dominican Republic, two-time WBA heavyweight champion John "The Quietman" Ruiz, 43-8-1 (29), petitioned the organization to enforce its regulations regarding foreign tax >
Two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (41-7-1, 28 KOs) has signed a contract to fight former WBO title-holder Serguei “White Wolf” Liakhovich (23-2, 14 KOs) on October 13 >
Two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz is a promotional free agent for the first time this century as he looks ahead to his 12th world title fight, mandated >
After having been awarded several controversial decision victories during title fights, WBA Heavyweight Champion John Ruiz found himself on the losing end last night at Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin >
Team Ruiz was notified yesterday by the World Boxing Association that it has reinstated John "The Quietman" Ruiz as WBA heavyweight champion, effectively immediately.
WBA letter: "Based on the actions >

The World Boxing Association has notified Team Ruiz that James “Lights Out” Toney (68-4-2, 43 KOs) is the mandatory contender for WBA heavyweight champion >
Two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (41-7-1, 28 KOs) has signed a contract to fight former WBO title-holder Serguei “White Wolf” Liakhovich (23-2, 14 KOs) on October 13 >
The World Boxing Association’s Executive Board recently ruled in favor of two-time world heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (41-6-1, 28 KOs), regarding a dispute about the Universum-announced October 28th >
Boxing News Tags: , Heriberto Ruiz, Jackson Asiku