July 26, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
WBC youth super-welterweight champ Ryosuke Maruki (10-3-1, 7 KOs), 149, successfully kept his belt when he kept outjabbing Indonesian welter ruler John Ruba (10-2, 4 KOs), 149, withstood his last surge and defeated him by a unanimous decision over ten hard-fought rounds on Sunday in Kariya, Japan. Ryosuke, a son of formerly world junior light challenger Takao Maruki (his manager/trainer now), registered his initial defense since he dethroned Thailand’s Petchsuriya Singwancha via eighth round knockout at the same venue this March. It’s his first and last defense since Ryosuke turned twenty-four and had to renounce his youth belt after this bout due to the regulations.
The official scores read: Biney Martin and Murase both 97-93, Ishikawa 96-94, all for Maruki. The referee was Yuji Fukuchi.
It was a very good competitive fight as Maruki (boxer) utilized sharp jabs and fast footwork, while Ruba (puncher) attempted to score with big overhand rights to the elusive champ all the way. After the first four rounds the open scoring system indicated 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38 for the fleet-footed champ. Maruki accelerated his combination upstairs and downstairs, but Ruba occasionally retaliated with solid right crosses over the champ’s frequent jabs to make it really competitive. After the seventh, Maruki showed his initiative with the interim scores: 69-64 twice and 68-65. Ruba, a shorter but muscular youngster at 21, turned loose in round nine, when he connected with vicious right hooks with which he attempted to score a come-from-behind knockout. The champ endured his desperate attack and took back the initiative in the tenth and last session. The local adherents celebrated Ryosuke’s best effort and successful defense against the hard-punching Indonesian. A week later, next Sunday, his brother Kazuya Maruki will face another Indonesian champ Heri Adriyanto at the same venue.
Promoter: Heiwa Promotions in association with Maruki Boxing Gym.
(7-26-2015)