(MAR 25) LINCOLN, R.I.– Now
that she’s finally a world champion, Shelly Vincent must face
the same challenges every title-holder faces each time she steps
inside the ring, most notably the prospect of staring down a
hungry opponent desperate to take what’s hers.
Five months after capturing the
vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) super bantamweight
title, Vincent (13-0, 1 KO) will defend the crown and put her
unbeaten record on the line Friday, April 3rd, 2015 against
former world champion and four-time title contender Christina
Ruiz (7-7-3, 4 KOs) of San Antonio in the 10-round main event of
CES Boxing’s “The Revival” at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I.
Tickets for “The Revival” are priced at $40.00, $100.00 and
$125.00 and available for purchase online at www.cesboxing.com
or winriver.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin
River Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to
change.
Willimantic, Conn., light heavyweight Kevin Cobbs (9-1, 3 KOs)
returns to face undefeated Providence, R.I., native Angel
Camacho Jr. (13-0, 4 KOs) in the six-round co-feature while
welterweights Nick DeLomba (6-0) of Cranston, R.I., and Joe
Wilson Jr. (3-1) of Hartford, Conn., battle in a six-round
special attraction.
No stranger to tough fights, the 29-year-old, 5-foot-3 Ruiz has
stood toe-to-toe with elite competition in several weight
classes, including current UBF bantamweight champion Tyrieshia
Douglas, International Boxing Federation (IBF) title-challenger
Jennifer Han, former World Boxing Organization (WBO)
bantamweight world champion Kaliesha West and 33-fight veteran
Alicia Ashley, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) title-holder
in the super bantamweight division.
Two years after challenging Ashley for the then-vacant WBC
122-pound world title, Ruiz defeated Christina Fuentes by
unanimous decision to capture the vacant International Female
Boxers Association (IFBA) world super bantamweight title, her
first victory in three title bouts. She’s faced six undefeated
fighters over the span of four and a half years with two notable
wins during that stretch, including a knockout victory over
previously unbeaten Emily Klinefelter in 2011 and a unanimous
decision win over Jennifer Scott in 2010.
Ruiz also fought WBC No. 7 ranked super bantamweight Celina
Salazar twice, earning a draw in their rematch in 2010, and
faced former WBO lightweight champ Amanda Serrano, now ranked
No. 2 in the world, in just her second pro fight.
With a resume second to none, Ruiz is a serious threat to
dethrone Vincent, who has climbed to No. 6 in the WBC after
beating Jackie Trivilino in a back-and-forth slugfest to capture
the then-vacant UBF crown in November. Vincent also boasts a
pair of wins over Bronx native Nydia Feliciano and a unanimous
decision win over four-time world-title challenger Angel Gladney
in 2013.
The undercard of “The Revival” features several noteworthy
regional showdowns, including a four-round junior welterweight
bout between unbeaten Worcester, Mass., native Freddy Sanchez
(3-0, 2 KOs) and Briam Granado (1-0, 1 KO) of New Bedford,
Mass., and a four-round super middleweight bout between Zachary
Christy (1-0-1) of Warwick, R.I. (St. Petersburg, Fla.), and
former Rocky Marciano Tournament amateur champion Bobby Flynn of
Sandwich, Mass., who is making his professional boxing debut.
New Bedford junior middleweight Ray Oliveira Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs)
returns to face Cambridge, Mass., newcomer Yves Thevenin and
heavyweight Jean Pierre Agustin (4-0, 2 KOs) of Lawrence, Mass.,
makes his New England and Twin River debut against New Haven,
Conn., veteran Solomon Maye (1-4, 1 KO). Unbeaten middleweight
prospect Khiary Gray-Pitts (5-0, 3 KOs) of Worcester and former
amateur standout Timmy Ramos of Framingham, Mass., will be
featured in separate bouts.