Ginny Fuchs captures WBC world junior bantam title

Ginny Fuchs - tough, resilient, determined. People can now add “world champion” to that list.

Saturday night, from the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, (aka “the war grounds”), the 2020 U.S. Olympic boxing team captain won the interim WBC junior bantamweight title. She beat the much more experienced, former world champion Adelaida Ruiz (16-1-1, 8 KOs) over 10 rounds.

Texas-born Fuchs, (4-0, 1 KO), was entering the ring for only the 4th time as a professional after turning pro a couple of years ago. Fighting a former champion in her hometown, fighting someone with much more experience, and fighting with a badly broken thumb for the entire fight. Fuchs was certainly up against it Saturday night, but she would not be denied.

In a post-fight interview, Fuchs told DAZN’s Chris Mannix that she felt she “jammed it from a left hook in the opening round”. However, after removing the glove, she was indeed looking at a very badly broken thumb.

But in the end, all that mattered was the results and 2 of the 3 judges liked what they saw from Fuchs. Judge Jerry Cantu saw it 97-93 for Ruiz. But, that was overruled by Martha Tremblay (97-93) and Fernando Villareal (100-90) for Fuchs.

While Ruiz landed some strong power shots, it was the great footwork, movement, and activity level that allowed Fuchs to add up points all night. Coming in from different angles with well-timed combination punching Fuchs outworked Ruiz, a strong brawler who was hoping for more of an inside fight.

After the fight, Fuchs was thrilled with the outcome, was very respectful of Ruiz, and was confident she had done enough to win.

“I thought I won,” said Fuchs. “I landed the cleaner shots. She’s the toughest fighter I’ve ever faced.”

Fuchs turned pro in the spring of 2022 after an impressive amateur career. While she has been frustrated with periods of inactivity, it was clear she wasn’t letting this moment slip away Saturday night in Carson. Fuchs will now be sidelined for a bit while her thumb heals up, but she will be looking to get right back to it once she is ready.

And, now a world champion, there will be lots of opportunities to face the best out there.

“I just want to keep getting belts,” stated Fuchs post-fight. “I’m coming for them all.”

After Saturday night’s impressive win, under the toughest of conditions, fight fans will be looking forward to watching what is next for the new WBC champion.