By Miguel Rivera
Estadio Centenario, Los Mochis, Mexico - WBA interim-bantamweight champion Hugo “Cuatito” Ruiz (29-1-0, 25 KOs) retained his title with a fourth round stoppage of Francisco “Panchito” Arce (31-8-3, 22 KOs). After a lively start by both boxers, Ruiz dropped Arce hard in the third, and he never fully recovered from the shot. Ruiz continued to batter Arce in the fourth - which caused the corner to throw in the towel to save Arce from further punishment.
Ruiz sets the record straight after a controversial unanimous decision win in May. They fought a war for twelve rounds and there were numerous knockdowns, but the rematch failed to match the pre-fight expectations. Some ringside observers believed Arce did enough to win the first bout, which is why a rematch was set.
