By Jake Donovan

Mexican bantamweight prospect Jesus Ruiz picked up the biggest win of his young career, climbing off of the canvas to score a knockdown of his own en route to a decisive points win over tough Colombian contender Luis Melendez.

The bout served as the Telemundo-televised main event at Auditoria Plaza Condesa in Mexico City, Mexico. Both fighters weighed in at the bantamweight limit of 118 lb.

Things were cruising along nicely for Ruiz until suffering a flash knockdown in round three.  The sequence was hardly surprising as Melendez is known for nothing if not his power, having previously dropped Fernando Montiel in a failed title bid and most recently Z Gorres, albeit both coming in losing efforts.

Ruiz continued the aforementioned trend, rising from the canvas to take the next several rounds. Melendez refused to go away quietly, punching his way back into the fight, but would suffer a knockdown himself in the ninth.

Replays showed it to be a combination of Melendez catching a right hand as well as their feet getting tangled up, but because a punch caused the sequence, a knockdown was ruled. Whether or not it was the correct call ultimately proved moot; Ruiz was already considerably ahead on the scorecards and one more point wouldn’t have mattered.

There was little mystery as to whose career would advance by the time the scorecards were ready to be announced. Scores of 115-111 (twice) and 117-109 came in for Ruiz, who takes his third straight win as he improves to 20-2-2 (17KO).

It was an important win for Ruiz, who was sent crashing down the last time he stepped up in competition, suffering an eighth round knockout against Rodolfo Hernandez just four months ago. He’s returned with a vengeance, scoring his third win in less than three months.

Meanwhile, things go from bad to worse for Melendez. The 30-year old knockout artist suffers his second straight loss and the fourth in his last six fights as he stumbles to 26-5-1 (21KO).

His last appearance was an emotional one, scoring a late knockdown in a losing effort against Filipino bantamweight Z Gorres. The win came at a heavy price for Gorres, who collapsed immediately afterward and was rushed to the hospital, where he went into a medically-induced coma, though he has since recovered.

Melendez’ career has not. One thing most likely doesn’t have anything to do with the other, but it appears as if the Colombian’s best days are now behind him.

Not so much for Jesus Ruiz, whose career appears to be taking off. He picked up a regional belt in the process, with the plan now to progress in the rankings and contend for a major bantamweight title before years end.

The show was presented by All-Star Boxing and Promociones Deportivas.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.