Goodman, The Ring's No. 3-rated junior featherweight, will take on his Argentine opponent at WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, Australia.

"He's a different sort of challenge, he's a good fighter," Goodman (21-1, 8 KOs) told The Ring. "He's got a few things I've got to be weary of and watch out for. He can obviously punch a bit. You don't get to where he's ranked, only had the one defeat, so he's got a bit of class. I think I'm levels above and am looking forward to showing it."

The matchup will also mark Goodman's first appearance back home since outpointing Thachtana Luangphon to a 12-round decision at the same venue in July 2024.

"It's 10 minutes from where I grew up and I'm going to have a lot of support there," he said proudly.

"It's going to be a great night, you've got Tim Tszyu, myself and some other guys who can throw their hands."

Goodman had memorably been close to facing Ring and undisputed champion Naoya Inoue on two occasions, in December 2024 and then January 2025 before a cut in sparring prevented that mandatory defense happening.

He later stepped up to featherweight, unsuccessfully challenging then-titleholder in a spirited 12-round showing last August.

The aim is now to get a title shot in his more natural weight class and this fight, for the IBF's No. 2 position, is viewed as a solid building block towards that target.

"It's all about pushing forward to getting another crack [at the world title], beating this guy will certainly do that," he said.

"I'm excited for the opportunity and going to take it with both hands. There's no two ways about it, I'm winning this fight and getting my hand raised."

Inoue will defend his cadre of titles against three-weight world champion Junto Nakatani in an all-Japanese superfight come May 2.

Goodman has his own business to take care of first, but will have an eye on the upcoming encounter.

"I could definitely see a good fight, Nakatani is a quality fighter but he hasn't had long at this weight," he said.

"In the last one, physically the guy [Sebastian Hernandez] got to him a little bit in a tough fight. Inoue can certainly handle the physical side of Nakatani just coming up.

"I think he's just going to be too physically strong for Nakatani but in saying that, Junto can punch. It's a good fight but Inoue has the runs on the board so you've got to tip him [to win]."

The 27-year-old isn’t too bothered on who he faces, as long as he gets his title shot.

"That's all things out of my control; we cross that bridge when you come to it," he said. "At the moment it's about putting myself in position to take on whatever I have to when I'm at that spot.

"I'm not worrying about is [Inoue] going up [in weight], is he not? There's too much stuff; I've got no effect or say on it, just worry about myself and the fight in-front of me, putting myself in the best position to get a world title shot."

Ruiz (23-1, 17 KOs) has been a professional for five years. The 25-year-old won his first 22 fights, picking up a continental title along the way in July 2022 before making nine title defenses and steadily building up momentum.

He suffered his career-first defeat when leaving his homeland for the first time, being outpointed over 10 rounds by Mukhammad Shekhov last July, but has since returned to the win column.