LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andy Ruiz scored enough major shots on Luis Ortiz to make up for his mistakes and warnings in a tight win that kept him on course for a chance to become the heavyweight champion again.
Ruiz dropped Ortiz 3 times en route to a unanimous win on Sunday night.
Former three-division world champion Abner Mares also battled for a majority draw with Miguel Flores in the return of Mares de Mares after a four-year absence from the card à los angeles carte. Lightweight Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz then stopped Eduardo Ramirez at the Los Angeles moment with two vicious setbacks.
In the main event, Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) made a resolution over Ortiz (33-3), a two-time world title challenger. The Southern California local knocked Ortiz down, 43, twice in the circular moment. and back in the seventh, however, his Cuban opponent fought a very swollen left eye and hit more, as should be long periods of relative inactivity for either fighter.
“I worked very hard for this fight, because I knew I was a warrior and I hit hard,” Ruiz said. “I think I did a wonderful job of boxing him and handling his pressure. “
The judges scored the match 114-111, 114-111 and 113-112 for Ruiz. The Associated Press had Ruiz 114-111, with setbacks making all the difference.
Ruiz achieved one of the biggest changes in recent heavyweight history when he won Anthony Joshua’s 3 championship belts in 2019, only to lose them to his British opponent six months later. Ruiz had only fought once since then, but he remained true to education. hoping to have chances in the belts.
“I don’t need to wait,” Ruiz said. I need to fight at least 3 or 4 times a year. I’m hungry, man. I need to be a champion again. “
After entering the ring in a blue and gold suit and a jersey with the colors and horns of the helmet of the Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl champion, Ruiz knocked Ortiz down early in the circular moment with a short right hand. Ortiz staggered and temporalmente. se slid down looking to stop with Ruiz, but he made it to the bell.
“To everyone who said I’m old, I gave them a war today,” Ortiz said. “I would like revenge. The eye is not a challenge for me. Do other people think I’m done? I don’t think so.
None of the fighters threw much or risked much in the next 4 rounds, and the crowd that loudly supported Ruiz complained about their discontent. But Ruiz reconnected at the end of the seventh, staggering Ortiz before finishing him off on the canvas with a direct to the most sensitive. of his head
“It’s very difficult,” Ruiz said. I waited for him to qualify and countered him when he did. It was a blessing that we were able to achieve it.
Earlier, Cruz (24-2-1, 17 KOs) called for a rematch with Gervonta “Tank” Davis with Ramirez’s two-round demolition, first hitting him face-on with a left hook in the jaw before completing it with a corner shot. .
Davis, who narrowly beat Cruz through the resolution last December, smiled as he watched the match from the ring amid chants of, “We tank!”Cruz fans.
Mares (31-3-2) hadn’t fought since his momentary loss to Leo Santa Cruz in June 2018. He recovered from surgery on an indifferent retina a while before the coronavirus pandemic began, and his absence from the ring was prolonged as he landed. an observation task with Showtime.
But Mares, despite everything, made the decision to return, and was quite strong early against Flores (25-4-1) with a series of great forehands that shook his opponent. The mares got tired at halftime, but won 96-94 on a judge’s card. The other two scored 95-95.
“Obviously, it’s been over 4 years, so I was a little off the beaten path in my time and a little slow,” Mares said. “But I felt smart and I think I scored the most difficult shots. I won. “
The card of à los angeles opened with great agitation: Edwin De Los Santos, a soft Dominican replacement as a defeated opponent of replos angelescement, beat in the past the hopeful undefeated Mexican José Valenzuelos angeles for a victory by prevention in the third round. De Los Santos was only added to the card on Wednesday when Jezreel Corrales was unable to download a Panama visa.
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