On Sunday night two top heavyweights, former champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (34-2, 22 KOs) and Luis Ortiz (33-2, 28 KOs), faced off in the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles California.
Andy Ruiz was looking to impress after his last performance in which he still got the victory but was knocked down against Chris Arreola. Ortiz at the age of forty-three was trying once more to insert himself into title contention.
Andy Ruiz Knocks Down Luis Ortiz Three Times
A lot was on the line for both men, so both knew they had to go out and perform to their highest ability if either of them wanted another shot at a world title.
As the fight began both men were feeling each other out, Ruiz trying to get the timing of Luis Ortiz to get inside the longer reach of the Cuban heavyweight. Ortiz was trying to keep Ruiz at distance to find his powerful left hand out of his southpaw stance, which he was able to catch Andy with at the end of round one. In the second round, Ruiz was able to answer back quickly, knocking down Ortiz with a rapid right-hand counter punch, as Ortiz missed his big left.
Before the end of the second Luis Ortiz was down again, at this point it was looking like it may be an early victory for Ruiz. However, Ortiz was able to recover and start landing some solid punches of his own that round.
After that second round, the pace dropped a bit in the middle rounds with both men trying to find their moment. Ruiz was trying to find his way around his long jab of Ortiz and Ortiz was trying to use the jab to set up his power left. In the seventh round, that moment would first come to Andy, where he was able to find a home for that right once again, dropping Ortiz for the third time of the night.
Once again it looked like it may be over shortly for Ortiz with Ruiz’s speed and timing being too much to keep up with. It would not be that easy, Ortiz showed, even at 43 he was still as tough as they come. Rising up and continuing to fight until the final round. By this time Ortiz had severe swelling in his left eye.
That eye did not stop him from having arguably his best round of the fight in the final round, as he was landing solid punches on Ruiz, but it was not enough at that point of the fight.
Andy Ruiz Wins By Unanimous Decision Victory
The bell sounded and the judges scored cards read as, 114-111, 114-111, 113-112, all in favour of Andy Ruiz Jr. showing that those knockdowns were a key factor in determining the victor. It was an impressive showing for both men.
Ruiz showed that when locked in, he is one of the most skilled and possesses some of the fastest hands in the world at heavyweight. Ortiz showed that, despite his age, he is still a very tough task for any fighter at heavyweight.
Ruiz now improves to 35-2 while Ortiz suffers his third defeat and falls to 33-3. This now sets ups Andy Ruiz Jr. to potentially face off against fellow former champion Deontay Wilder.
Wilder himself has faced Ortiz twice, both resulting in a Wilder Knockout, but not without
resistance. Wilder is currently scheduled to fight Robert Helenius in October. If Wilder can get the victory in October, given that both men are signed to PBC it should be an easy fight to be made official.
