TORONTO, ON - With just two days remaining before another blockbuster night of boxing at Casino Rama, the four fighters topping this Friday’s Rumble at Rama VII card met head-to-head one final time on Wednesday in downtown Toronto.
“With all the great cards we’ve put on at Casino Rama since the inception of the Rumble at Rama series, this seven-fight card shapes up to be the biggest and the best of the bunch,” Allan Tremblay, President of Orion Sports Management told the assembled media at Toronto’s Delta Chelsea hotel.
“These are the type of fights that fight fans love. Honest fighters, giving their all in fights that have real significance.”
In the main event, two of the most game and rugged super bantamweights on the planet, IBF #11 Heriberto “Cuarte” Ruiz (40-7-2, 23 KO’s), and IBF #13 Mauricio “Nanara” Martinez (35-8-1 23 KO’s) clash in a battle that will rocket the winner through the division’s ranks, and to the front of the line to challenge reigning IBF world champion Celestino Caballero.
“Ruiz is a great fighter, there’s no denying that,” said the Panamanian Martinez, a former WBO Bantamweight world champion.
“But my goal is to get another world title around my waist, and nobody is going to get in my way.”
Ruiz, who holds a decision win over reigning IBF Featherweight champion Cristobal Cruz, and who was stopped in his only world title shot by then IBF Bantamweight kingpin Rafael Marquez in July of 2004, is equally determined to earn another crack at boxing’s ultimate glory.
“Everybody here has given us a great opportunity, and I’m thankful. But I’m here to win, and we’ll see that happen on Friday,” said Ruiz.
“He’s a good boxer, and a former world champion, and he’s in good shape. But I’m tough, and I can box too.
“I really don’t see anything big problem that he poses.”
The stacked undercard has the same hard hitting appeal as the main event, highlighted by a clash for the Canadian Heavyweight title between undefeated champion Greg “The Steel Pole” Kielsa (8-0, 3 KO’s), and veteran Arthur “The Bear” Cook 14-4-2, 5 KO’s), and a huge announcement concerning the future of former IBF Junior Featherweight champion “The Canadian Kid” Steve Molitor.
“Steve’s immediate, and long-range future will be revealed on Friday,” Tremblay said.
“I know that it’s an announcement he’s been waiting on for a long time.”
Both Kielsa and Cook met with the media on Wednesday, with each exuding the quiet confidence of true professional fighters.
“I trained harder for this fight than for any other in my career,” said Kielsa, who will be making the first defense of the Canadian title he earned last November with a ten round unanimous decision over Raymond Olubowale.
“I’ve done more sparring. The workouts have been more intense. I’m going to be in great shape.”
For Cook, who has been living and training in Las Vegas for the past five years, the Kielsa fight is a chance to show the world what he is capable of, given a real opportunity.
“I’m always taking fights on short notice, but his time I’ll have the benefit of a proper training camp. I’m ready to shock the world, and take that Canadian title.”
The Rumble at Rama VII undercard also features the Orion debuts of prized prospects Felix Mercedes and Jason Douglas, as well as the return of “The Sudbury Sensation” Phil Boudreault (5-0), who takes on Hamilton, Ontario’s Justin Fountain (3-1-2, 1 KO).
And, in what promises to be an all-action heavyweight slugfest, powerhouses Demetrice “Tha Next Big Thang” King (14-17, 12 KO’s), and Jerry “Big Daddy”
Butler (7-5-1, 7 KO’s) square off over six rounds.
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