Ruelas Enters Bout With Eye on an IBC Title : Boxing: Victory in Las Vegas would keep Arleta featherweight on schedule for confrontation with Parker.

Featherweight Rafael Ruelas of Arleta, ranked 20th by the World Boxing Council, could take a step toward a possible title fight when he battles Job Walters of Jamaica in a scheduled 10-round bout tonight at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas.

Ruelas is 19-0 with 16 knockouts. Walters is 12-4 but has not lost in more than four years. In his last two fights he defeated former world champion junior featherweights Bernardo Pinango of Venezuela and Azael Moran of New York.

Ruelas is scheduled to fight again in November at the Forum for the International Boxing Council featherweight title against champion Pee Wee Parker of Los Angeles.

“Rafael is mature enough now for us to move him toward a world title fight,” said Dan Goossen of the Van Nuys-based Ten Goose Boxing Club, which manages Ruelas. “This fight will give the public a chance to see what we know, that Rafael is ready to beat any of the big boys in the featherweight division.”

Another Ten Goose fighter, super middleweight Joey DeGrandis, will fight Saturday night at Bally’s. DeGrandis, a two-time New England Golden Gloves champion, is 2-0 as a professional. He will fight John McLain of Las Vegas. It will be McLain’s pro debut.