North Bergen’s Saleh Ali looks to bounce back after first loss
Saleh Ali didn’t waste any time getting back in the ring. One day shy of three months after his last bout, the boxer known as “Habibi” is set to face Michael Ruiz this Saturday in a four-round junior lightweight bout at Bally’s Atlantic City. The 32-year-old from North Bergen, N.J. has plenty to prove after suffering his first loss, a unanimous decision to Romel Tsanimp, this past March in Newark.
“This fight will be a better showcase of what I can do boxing wise. It’s a quick turn around after my last fight which didn’t go they way I wanted it to due to a very bad weight cut that affected my stamina and power,” said Ali.
Against Ruiz (0-2), he is facing another boxer who is 32 years old from Toms River, N.J. Ruiz last fought in July of 2023, losing by second round stoppage to the debuting Daniel Gonzalez.
“All I know about him is that he’s an 0-2 fighter who’s most likely tired of losing and is going to come in and try to go through me to get his first win,” said Ali. “That record isn’t something I’m paying attention too. I don’t underestimate anybody who goes into that ring with 8 ounce gloves.”
Boxing has been a rollercoaster for Ali, who turned in July of 2022 with a draw against Carlos Nunez, and then got his first win in November of that year, but dislocated his shoulder in a unanimous decision win over Jose Luis Fracica.
Ali was born in Sanaa, Yemen and moved to the United States at age five. After spending most of his childhood in California, Ali moved to New Jersey in 2010. He says he first got interested in boxing while watching videos of another Yemeni boxer, Prince Naseem Hamed, and picked up the sport at age 18. He became serious about boxing at age 24.
When he isn’t in the boxing gym preparing for a fight, Ali is often at Al Saidah Supermarket, his family’s grocery store on Kennedy Boulevard in West New York, N.J. He’s there seven days a week to open up the market, which primarily is known for its middle eastern products but also offers fresh cut meats and chicken.
Managing a business and preparing for a boxing fight both require plenty of dedication, but Ali says there is no question which task is tougher.
“Definitely preparing for a fight. It takes a lot of focus, discipline and energy. A supermarket usually runs its self if managed correctly,” said Ali.
The card, which is promoted by Main Events, will be headlined by the WBA gold middleweight title fight between Thomas LaManna and Juan Carlos Abreu, and will also feature the professional debut of Jean Pierre Valencia, plus other New Jersey prospects like Damian Tinnerello, Justin Palmieri and Gabriel Gerena.