On Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19-year-old Zaquin Moses made his highly anticipated pro boxing debut when he defeated Michael Ruiz by unanimous decision.
The match against Ruiz was never in doubt as Moses was in complete control of the match from start to finish. He displayed a versatile offense and solid defense as he cruised his way to his first win as a pro.
As an amateur, Zaquin Moses was a three-time national champion. He got everyone noticed at the amateur level when he defeated Curmel Moton in March 2023. Moses experienced much success as an amateur, but on the night of November 9, he began a new chapter in his boxing journey.
In the opening round of his pro debut, Moses looked extremely poised as he took his time and consistently jabbed his southpaw. At the midpoint of the first round, Moses Ruiz was stunned when he landed a hard left hand.
Moses calmly continued to finish off his jab in the second round as he targeted Ruiz’s body. As the second round progressed, Moses was able to land sharp combinations on several occasions. Midway through his pro debut, Moses swept the first two rounds with his accuracy and good punch placement.
In the opening minute of the third round, Ruiz was able to connect with a solid counter right hand, but Moses responded by landing a three-punch combination. In the 4th and final round, Moses started the round by landing a sharp counter left hand shot.
Seconds later, Moses connected with a hard left hand that visibly hurt Ruiz. Moses was on the attack when it looked like he was going for the knockout, but Ruiz was able to survive and make it through the final round. At the end of the 4-round competition, all three judges scored 40-36 in favor of the winner, Zaquin Moses.
Zaquin Moses (1-0) is the younger cousin of WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson. During his post-fight interview with IFL TV, Moses credited Stevenson with preparing him for the moment when he spoke about the advice Stevenson gave him before the fight.
“To stay focused and have fun. You have your best performances when you’re having fun. Don’t let the moment be bigger than it is.”
