North American Boxing Federation (NABF) lightweight champion Dierry “Dougy Style” Jean (26-1, 18 KOs) will make his first title defense September 27 against Mexican challenger Daniel “Canerito” Ruiz(32-7-2, 22 KOs) at the famed Bell Centre in Montreal.
The 12-round bout will be the co-feature on the “Red Dawn” card, headlined by a North American Boxing Association (NABA) light heavyweight title fight betweentwo-time Russian Olympian Artur Beterbiev (5-0-0, 5 KOs) and former International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud (24-2-0, 19 KOs).
In his last action this past June, Jean stopped Mario Perez (15-5-4) in the eighth round for the vacant NABF lightweight crown, five months after losing a unanimous 12-round decision (118-111, 116-112, 116-113) to International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson.
“Honestly,” Jean said, “I didn’t go to lightweight because I thought it was going to be harder at 140 pounds. I’m not getting any younger, so I thought it could open doors to fight in two divisions. I want to get a world title shot as soon as possible. I do feel a little stronger and imposing at 135. I don’t take any of my opponents lightly but, after this fight, I want a title shot at Omar Figueroa or Terence Crawford, at 135 or 140.”
Upset-minded Ruiz, who is a former International Boxing Organization (IBO) super featherweight champion, knocked off hot Irish prospect and previously unbeatenJamie Kavanagh (15-0-1) last December by way of a sixth-round knockout. Ruiz has been the distance with Rey Bautista (33-2), losing a 12-round split decision in 2012 for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) International featherweight championship, in addition to dropping a 10-round majority decision in 2011 to unbeaten Canadian contender Logan McGuinness (14-0-1).
“I can’t wait for this fight to happen,” Jean added. “Even though he is still young, Ruiz is experienced. He has a good left hook and is a powerful puncher as his record indicates (22 KOs in 32 wins). But I’m in great shape; I’m going to destroy him, stop him, because it’s ‘Dougy Style’ time!”
“Dierry is fighting a dangerous opponent,” Jean’s promoter CamilleEstephan (Eye of the Tiger Management – “EOTTM”) noted. “We’re didn’t bring in a second-rate lightweight. Ruiz has power and a track record for knocking off top prospects. He’s lost to some good guys like Abner Cotto, Bautista and McGuinness.
“Derry gained a lot of attention winning the NABF title. He wants to make a major statement this fight in order to get a big fight with Figueroa or Crawford. He’s ready for them. Dierry learned a lot in the Peterson fight and we’re giving him every opportunity to get him right back on top, ASAP.”
A loaded undercard card will showcase two other EOTTM fighters, world welterweight title challenger Antonin Decarie (30-2-0, 9 KOs) against Mexican invader Ivan “El Ruso” Pereyra (19-3, 13 KOs) in a 10-round fight, along with sensational junior middleweight prospect Steven Butler (4-0-0, 3 KOs) in a four-round bout vs. TBA.
“Red Dawn” is co-promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and InterBox, in association with Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) and the participation of Don King Productions (DKP), and co-presented by Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron.
