A prospect at 147 pounds, Ricky will celebrate his 27 th birthday the day after this fight.

Manager Gabriel Ruelas , the former WBC super featherweight world champion and the brother of former IBF lightweight world champion Rafael Ruelas , said, “Ricky didn't have any amateur fights, but he grew up with us, I've known him for a long time. I remember him coming to the gym and training, he's been in the gym all that time. He must have been around 13 years old when he started. Throughout the years, he sparred with everyone, many world champions including myself. He has experience with professional fighters, he has more experience than some fighters with a lot of amateur fights. He handled himself in the ring very well, but we didn't want to encourage him to fight until he said he was ready. It took years for him to decide, but a few months ago he said he wanted to turn pro.

“The way I met him was at the gym when I was about 19 years old. The gym was kind of new at that time and he was standing by the wall by the back door. I grabbed him and brought him in the gym, and my trainer, Joe Goossen, and myself, we threatened him. We told him we didn't want any kids putting graffiti on the windows or the mirrors. And he's been coming around ever since then.”

Regarding Ricky's nickname, Gabriel said, “He just got it from friends, I guess. It's like from ‘The Lucy Show ”

A full-time fighter, Ricky is married and has a five-year old daughter.

He debuted at the age of 26 on 9-20-03 in Sylmar , CA , and knocked out Jose Ramirez in the 1 st round…