In a rematch of the WBC Super Bantamweight World Title he lost last August, the new 122-pound champion Ruiz improved his record to 5-0 in rematches (with five knockouts) as he delivered a stunning first-round knockout against Ceja, who injured his right ankle on a powerful clean right just seconds into the fight sending him to the canvas.
Ceja got up slowly but was battered with a fury of punches and knocked out again with just 51 seconds into the fight ending the affair.
"I was very prepared to knock him out, but I was prepared to go 12 rounds tonight also if I had to," said Ruiz, who was teary and emotional following the victory. "I was happy to knock him out in the first round. I'm looking for the best fighters and the best money out there."
Said SHOWTIME analyst Paulie Malignaggi: "I've never seen a first-round KO that soon in a fight of this much importance."
Added SHOWTIME's Bernstein: "The right hand was the weapon of choice for Ruiz, and he got the job done. What a moment of redemption for Ruiz!"
Ceja, who beat Ruiz on a fifth-round knockout last August to win the world title, was hurt from the first series of Ruiz punches and never recovered in the intense first round.
Ceja was taken to nearby UC Irvine Hospital and diagnosed with a fractured right ankle.
"I saw that he got hurt with the first punch and I saw his leg wobbling and so I said, 'Let's finish'," Ruiz said. "And I did in that round."
