McGuinness Successfully Defends NABA Lightweight Title; Looks Ahead To Canadian Showdown Aug. 27 vs. Gaudet

LOCKED & LOADED -- (L) NABA lightweight champion Logan Cotton McGuinness is redy to unload a big right on challenger Daniel Ruiz last Friday night in Canada. (Photo Credit: Durell Wambolt/The Boxing Examiner)

By: Bob Trieger

TORONTO (June 27, 2011) – Undefeated prospect Logan Cotton McGuinness successfully defended his North American Boxing Association (“NABA”) lightweight title for the second time, taking a 10-round majority decision (96-94, 96-94, 95-95) against veteran Daniel “Canerito” Ruiz, in an entertaining, highly competitive fight on the most recent “Friday Night At The Fights” show (June 24) at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The “Friday Night At the Fights” show was presented by United Boxing Promotions, in association with McGuiness’ promoter, Hennessy Sports, and Groupe Yvon Michel.

McGuinness (15-0-1, 7 KOs), fighting in front of a packed house of passionate fans from Toronto, is rated No. 11 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”). “It’s always good fighting at home,” McGuinness said from his home. “I just finished watching a tape of the fight. The first could have gone either way but I thought I won rounds two through seven easily. I was applying pressure, using my jab and moving inside to hit his body. I got caught with a shot in the eighth. I recovered between rounds and I think we were both low on gas in the ninth. He caught me again in the 10th but I survived. Everybody was telling me to take a knee but I shook my head (no) because I have the heart of a fighter. A tough fight but I’ll come back even stronger because of it. Hey, I’m an Irish fighter…I couldn’t take a knee.”

Ruiz (22-4-1, 16 KOs), fighting outside of his native Mexico for the first time, is a former Mexican Pacific Coast Featherweight Champion who came into last Friday night’s action riding a five-fight unbeaten streak (4-0-1).

“I wouldn’t say I was surprised by how he (Ruiz) fought,” added McGuinness, who dedicated his fight to the memory of Nick Charles (award-winning boxing announcer). “I just didn’t know what to expect because there’s not much footage of him available. He’s a good counter-puncher with his left and right hands. He hurt me with counter-rights when I brought my jab back a little lazy. That was my fault because it was something I should have avoided.”

McGuinness’ next scheduled opponent, former world title challenger Benoit Gaudet (24-2, 10 KOs), fighting out of Quebec, was a special guest at ringside. The arch-rival Canadians are slated to fight August 27 in Canada.

“There’s a lot of video on Gaudet,” Logan remarked. “Preparing properly for him won’t be a problem like it was for this fight. He’s a different fighter than Ruiz, much more of a boxer, a very good boxer at that. He was out-boxing Humberto Soto for the first seven-eight rounds until he got caught in the ninth (TKO9 in 2009 for Soto’s WBC super featherweight title). I talked with my trainer, Chris Johnson, and we need to bring in more and better sparring partners for this fight (vs. Gaudet), even though I was in great shape (for Ruiz). I think I’ll be the stronger fighter. I’ll need to cut-off the ring and apply pressure and he’s going to want to box and move around.”

Go on line at www.HennessySports.com for more information about McGuinness or any of its boxers.

Jose Peralta Alejo Signs Promotional Contract With Main Events

Jose "Mangu" Peralta Alejo, (6-1, 4 KO's), of Jersey City, NJ, has signed a promotional agreement with Main Events. In his last fight on October 30, 2010, Jose upset former New York Golden Gloves Champion Christian Martinez who was 4-0 at the time. Mangu is a refreshing addition to the Junior Welterweight division.

"Jose is like a breath of fresh air. He's not only a likeable guy, he's got a hunger and enthusiasm that you don't see too often these days." said Main Events CEO, Kathy Duva. "It is also such a joy to be teaming up, again, with Pat Lynch and Mikey Red, whom we shared so much success and fun with while working with Arturo Gatti for so many years."

Jose said, "I am happy to sign with a world class promoter like Main Events. With Pat Lynch as my manager and Mikey Red as my trainer, my team is complete. I feel like I can achieve my goal to become a world champion now." He added, "I want to thank Main Events for giving me the opportunity to fight on the July 23rd Judah - Khan card."

Trainer Mikey "Red" Skowronski was ecstatic about the signing, "I could not be happier. I have known the crew from Main Events for such a long time, all the way back to Gatti days. They are one of the few promotional companies in NJ that are actually doing something good for their fighters. He's in the right hands." He added, "Right now Mangu is training very hard for the July 23rd fight. No disrespect to Zab, but we're going to steal the show!"

Mangu's manager, Pat Lynch expressed, "I am very happy to be working with Main Events again, and I look forward to making another world champion together! From here, with Jose's talent and the solid team now behind him, we can only go up."