Activity and sparring some of the best fighters at 140 pounds have made Ricardo Ruvalcaba a more well-rounded fighter.
The unbeaten Ruvalcaba will face Irving Macias of Monterrey, Mexico tonight at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. The eight-round bout will be part of a Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN card (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT).
At Wednesday’s weigh-in, Ruvalcaba weighed in at 141.6 pounds. Macias came in at 142 pounds.
Ruvalcaba (10-0-1, 9 knockouts), who resides in Ventura, California, last fought on August 12, dropping Adrian Orban three times en route to a second round knockout victory. The win over Orban took place two and a half months after Ruvalcaba knocked out Ramon Duarte Marquez in the opening round.
The 23-year-old is facing a fighter in Macias, who has won six of his last seven fights and, on paper, is the best fighter Ruvalcaba has fought, thus far. Ruvalcaba accepts Macias (15-3, 10 KOs), will come with everything to beat an unbeaten prospect, but is ready for the challenger.
“I know he’s a long way from home and he’s coming with every intention to beat me,” Ruvalcaba told BoxingScene Wednesday night. “But I know I have the skill-set and the proper training camp to come out victorious.”
Tonight will be Ruvalcaba’s fifth fight this year. He has fought under multiple promotional banners, including Top Rank and local Southern California promoter Ed Holmes.
Ruvalcaba is a promotional free agent, but has benefited from that, having the flexibility of fighting under different promotional banners. While some prospects may be lucky to fight two or three times this year, Ruvalcaba is grateful to have fought as often as he did.
“I feel like the activity this year has helped me become more experienced in the ring and has helped me become a more overall-complete fighter,” said Ruvalcaba, who is managed by Frank Espinoza. “I don’t mind jumping from promoter to promoter because, every time, they are getting me good fights, with great platforms, that I can showcase my talents.
Despite living in Ventura, Ruvalcaba makes the hour and a half drive to the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood to spar some of the best junior welterweights in boxing, including Ryan Garcia and Elvis Rodriguez.
Ruvalcaba has sparred others, but gets the best work against both Garcia and Rodriguez.
“Sparring Ryan Garcia and Elvis Rodriguez has helped me with my confidence,” said Ruvalcaba. “(It) reminds me that I belong at the top.”
Tonight, Ruvalcaba hopes to make an impression on boxing fans and those who fight at 140 pounds.
An impressive win tonight over Macias could segway for bigger fights on bigger platforms for Ruvalcaba, who is counting on a big 2024.
“I’m definitely making a statement tonight. I want Golden Boy and every promoter to see that I’m the real deal and I belong at the top.
“My goal for 2024 is to stay active, fight at least five times (in 2024, and) hopefully sign (a) good deal with a promoter and, by mid-year, be fighting for a title.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing