Beterbiev-Cloud Undercard: Jean Knocks Out Ruiz In Five

By Jake Donovan

Dierry Jean has his work cut out for him as a lightweight. For now, the power he possesses was enough to get through his latest challenge, overcoming a sluggish start to stop Daniel Ruiz in five rounds Saturday evening at Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

The bout served as chief support to a light heavyweight contest between unbeaten prospect Artur Beterbiev and former titlist Tavoris Cloud. 

Ruiz, a veteran journeyman from Mexico, jumped out to a surprisingly strong start as Jean had a difficult time adjusting to his opponent's aggression. Even in the moments in which Jean was able to take the lead, the former title challenger hardly looked like he belonged on the world level. 

By round four, Ruiz found himself in control and Jean fighting for his boxing life, at least in terms of being respected on a world-class level. That may not have come on this particular evening, but Jean gets credit for embracing an undesirable scenario and finding a way to produce a silver lining. 

The tide turned for good midway through round five, when a body shot produced a delayed reaction knockdown. Ruiz turned and dropped to a knee while wincing in pain, remaining on the canvas until jumping up to his feet as the referee reached the count of nine.

Jean stuck with what was working, going right back to the body in forcing the bout's second knockdown. This time, Ruiz wisely remained down for the full ten count, shaking his head while looking towards his corner, informing his team that he was done for the night.

The official time was 2:42 of round five.

Jean picks up his second straight win since dropping down to lightweight, advancing to 27-1 (19KOs). The 32-year old formerly campaigned in the super lightweight division, but came up short in his lone title fight, dropping a competitive but clear decision to 140 lb. titlist Lamont Peterson earlier this year. 

The bout serves as the lone loss of his career, but enough to make the decision to shed five pounds and drop one division below. 

Ruiz falls to 32-8 (22KOs), snapping a four-fight unbeaten streak.  

UNDERCARD

Stephane Ouellet was best remembered for his role as a thrill-a-minute middleweight during the 1990s boxing scene in Canada. He would have been best served to keep those memories intact and remained on the sidelines; however, an ill-advised comeback at age 43 instead surfaced, ending in disaster as he was cut, battered, dropped and outpointed by Belgium's Cedric Spera over four rounds.

The first round was the only frame in which Ouellet enjoyed any sustained success. Spera was imported from Belgium to serve as a soft touch, having lost two straight heading in and for about four minutes into the bout playing the willing role of opponent.

However, Ouellet got greedy, finding his opponent's leaky defense all too inviting. The Canadian middleweight grew careless and left himself open for a fight altering left hook that had him wobbly. Spera went on the attack for the remainder of the round, and turned aggressor for the balance of the fight. 

Ouellet was cut over the right eye by round three, cut on his lip in round four and battered to the point of suffering the bout's lone knockdown midway through the 4th and final round. He beat the count, but was in no shape to turn things around, limping to the finish line where his only consolation prize was not suffering yet another knockout loss.

Spera was awarded the bout by scores of 39-36 across the board, picking up the most notable win of his career. His record advances to 11-2, coming up big in his first fight on the road.

As for Ouellet, all he's left with are memories of his sensational wars with Davey and Alex Hilton. A knockout win over Alex set up a three fight series with Davey Hilton, dropping the first two fights but winning their third in Sept. '00. It turned out to be the final win of his career, serving as cannon fodder for then-fresh versions of Omar Sheika (2001) and Joachim Alcine (2004).

His return to the ring 10 years later ends with a third straight loss, though the first time he heard the final bell in defeat. Still, he falls to 29-6 (18KOs) in what is hopefully the last time he ever thinks about lacing 'em up. 

Antonin Decarie turned in a rare knockout, stopping Ivan Pereyra in five rounds. The 31-year old welterweight was in full control, before ending matters with a body shot to put Pereyra (19-4, KOs) down for the full count. The official time was 2:08 of round five. Decarie (31-2, 10KOs) has now won four straight.

Cedric Spera UD4 (39-36 x3) Stephane Ouellet - middleweights

Antonin Decarie KO5 (2:08) Ivan Pereyra - welterweights

Kevin Bizier KO1 (2:31) Laszlo Fazekas - super welterweights

Yves Ulysse Jr. UD6 (60-54 x2, 60-52) Krystian Huczko - super lightweights

Eric Bazinyan UD6 (60-54 x2, 60-53) Baptiste Castegnaro - super middleweights

Steven Butler TKO2 (2:44) Bernard Follea - super welterweights