Juan Ruiz

Former bantamweight contender and Hart High alumnus Juan Ruiz of Santa Clarita will headline a seven-bout boxing card on Saturday, Feb. 25, in an eight-round fight at the Country Club (Golf Course) in Santa Paula.

Ruiz (23-8, 7 KO’s) will take on Jose Aguiniga (31-0, 14 KO’s) of Oxnard, who has not fought since winning an eight round majority decision over Joe Morales in April 2007.

The seven-bout card is being promoted by Armando Renteria of El Dorado Entertainment.

“I’m just excited to put on a great card here in Ventura County,” Renteria told Fightnews.com.

“I’m promoting this because it’s a necessity. We are the boxing capital of the west coast. I believe I’m the best man for the job of putting on this show,” said Rentera, who owns El Dorado Mexican restaurant in downtown Oxnard.

It will be the first professional fight card in Santa Paula since July of 1923.

Ruiz has lost six of his last seven fights. In his last fight in November, he lost a close six round majority decision to Allan Tanada. His last victory was two and a half years ago when he stopped former champion Wayne McCullough after the sixth round to win a regional title belt.

In the eight round co-feature bout, lightweight David Rodela will take on hard-hitting Manuel Bocanegra. Rodela, (15-5-3, 6 KO’s) of Oxnard, was stopped in his last bout in the fifth round in September at the hands of unbeaten Luis Ramos.

He has been lately known more for being a sparring partner to Manny Pacquiao, whether the Filipino trains in the Philippines or at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

Bocanegra, (7-9-1, 5 KO’s) of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, is returning to the ring for the first time in three years. In his last bout, he was stopped by current lightweight world title holder Miguel Vazquez.

Six years ago, he was stopped by Anthony Peterson in the second round, but does have a seventh round technical knockout over then-junior lightweight contender Daniel Attah.

In other bouts:

– Hugo Centeno (11-0, 6 KOs) of Oxnard will take on Anaheim’s Roderick Grajeda (6-6-2, 3 KO’s) in a six round junior middleweight bout.

Ruiz fighting at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas | Photo: Juan Ruiz

– Robert Ortiz (7-4-1, 3 KOs) of Simi Valley, CA, will fight Manuel Del Cid (4-8, 1 KO) of Los Angeles in a four round bout.

– In a four round super middleweight bout, Oxnard’s Roger Romo (4-0-2, 1 KO) will take on Thomas Turner, (1-0) of Caldwell, ID. Romo, who went by Roger Vargas, is the half-brother of Fernando Vargas.

– Indian Banuelos, of Santa Paula, will make his professional debut in front of his hometown. He will take on Jose Garcia (0-4) of Bakersfield, CA, in a four round super bantamweight bout.

– Super bantamweight Abraham Morales of Oxnard will also make his professional debut when he takes on Edgar Flores (0-4) of Santa Ana, CA in a four round bout. Morales recently turned 19 years old.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the El Dorado Restaurant at 805-483-1919 or Fresh Mex Bar and Grill at 805-986-0702. Tickets are priced at $150 for ringside, $90 for floor seating, and $35 for general admission. Doors are scheduled to open at 6 p.m., with first bell scheduled for 7 p.m.

Renteria stated that the following fighters verbally confirmed to him that they will attend the card: Sergio Martinez, Brandon Rios, Victor Ortiz, Fernando Vargas, Miguel Angel Garcia, James Toney, and Lupe Aquino, who was the first world champion from Ventura County.

A ring will be set up on the golf course and seating, including bleachers, will be erected to accommodate about 2,500.