EXPERIENCE got the better of youth as ALA star Rey ?Boom-Boom? Bautista failed to capture a victory in his return bout in the US after he was manhandled by veteran Heriberto ?Cuate? Ruiz in their eight-round battle in the undercard of the Hatton-Malignaggi fight yesterday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The 31-year-old Ruiz dominated the whole fight and was awarded with a unanimous decision win, 77-73, 78-72 and 80-70.
In the first round, Bautista measured his Mexican opponent by throwing jabs but nearing the end of the round the war intensified as both boxers traded heavy blows.
The former world championship contender Ruiz used body shots as his main arsenal to throw Bautista off his rythmn.
Ruiz then floored Bautista in the third round after a devastating right hook landed on the Boholano?s jaw.
The 22-year-old ALA boy was also bloodied following a gash in right eyebrow that he got after clashing heads with Ruiz.
From then on, Bautista?s blood flowed from his wound until the very last round as his cutman Tony Martin failed to seal the wound.
Bautista rocked Ruiz in the fifth round with a powerful left punch but failed to dispose of him, and was also deducted a point after he hit Ruiz with a low blow. Second
With this loss, just the second of his career, Bautista record slid to 26 wins two losses with 16 knockouts. while Ruiz improved his record to 40 victories seven defeats and two draws with 23 knockouts.
In Bautista?s last fight in the US, he was knocked out by former World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in the very first round of their battle last year.
After that loss, Bautista won three straight fights before venturing in the US anew against Ruiz.
