By the Bohol Chronicle
Boholano Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista will take on Mexican Heriberto "Cuate" Ruiz in one of the undercards of today's Ricky Hatton-Paulie Malignaggi showdown, 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Both Bautista and Ruiz came in at an exact 122 lbs during official weigh-in held yesterday at the MGM Grand.
Bautista (26-1, 19 KOs) will not be defending his WBO Intercontinental superbantam title, although Ruiz (39-7-2, 23 KOs) is expected to give the Bohol-raised fighter fits all night with his vast experience.
Ruiz has fought the best in the world, including Rafael Marquez, and has indicated Bautista does not faze him one bit.
Bautista trained at the Mayweather Gym here prior to today's event, which is expected to be packed by British fans all rooting for Hatton to win.
The night's main event, Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi, is a scheduled 12-round battle for Hatton's Ring Magazine and IBO Junior Welterweight titles, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Punch Promotions and DiBella Entertainment and sponsored by Affliction Clothing and Cerveza Tecate. In the co-feature James Kirkland vs. Brian Vera, a 10-round middleweight bout, is presented in association with Tournament of Contenders.
Although he is the little brother of one of boxing biggest stars, Matthew Hatton is well on his way to carving out his own niche in the crowded welterweight division. A proud native of Manchester, the 27-year-old has won six of his last seven bouts including his last bout, a solid win, over Scott Woolford in September of this year. Hatton faces Accra, Ghana's Ben "Wonder" Tackie who is no stranger to the Hatton family, having fought Ricky in 2003.
Tagbilaran's Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista is already a star in the Philippines, but the highly-motivated youngster wants to achieve the same status around the world as his countryman Manny Pacquiao and knows the only way to do that is to win a championship. After falling short in his first world title shot against Daniel Ponce De Leon, Bautista has roared back with three straight wins. In Heriberto "Cuate" Ruiz Bautista will be facing a rugged warrior who has been in with the best in the world over the last 14 years. Winner of four of his last five bouts, the 31-year-old from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico is ready for a battle with "Boom Boom."
Former World Super Featherweight Champion Sirimongkol Singwancha (59-2, 34 KOs) of Thailand will return to fight in the United States for the first time in over three years when he puts his 16 fight winning streak on the line in a welterweight eight rounder against the always dangerous Rogelio Castañeda Jr. (24-14-3, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico.
Already 6-0 in 2008 and 8-0 with 7 KOs overall, Philadelphia's Danny Garcia will look to keep the momentum going in his busy year when he faces El Paso, Texas' Adan Hernandez (14-5, 5 KOs) in a junior welterweight six rounder.
Also competing in six rounders will be lightweight Hylon Williams (5-0 1 KO) of Houston, Texas, against Carson, California's Ramon Flores (2-3-1, 2 KOs) and hard-hitting Cincinnati lightweight prospect Adrien Broner (3-0, 3 KOs) making his debut under the Golden Boy Promotions banner against tough veteran Terrance Jett of Las Vegas.
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