This is a preview of Andy Ruiz Jr vs Luis Ortiz – you can click here for a full report and scorecards after Ruiz scored a unanimous decision victory over his Cuban opponent.
Andy Ruiz Jr vs Luis Ortiz is a key heavyweight matchup which will have a huge bearing on the future of boxing’s marquee weight class.
Californian former world champion Ruiz (34-2) locks horns with veteran danger man Ortiz (33-2) in an eagerly-awaited showdown which should take the winner one massive step closer to a title shot.
Both men have been relatively inactive in the last two years – each having only one fight since 2020. That only heightens the expectation for a pivotal showdown with much on the line.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the big rumble in Los Angeles.
What TV channel is the fight on? – How to watch live
If you to watch Ruiz vs Ortiz live, it depends where you are living in the world.
In the U.S. the TV rights are with FOX Sports, and they are airing the bout as a pay-per-view production. The PPV price is set at $74.99.
If you are in the UK you have a much cheaper option – the bout is available to buy on FITE TV, at a cost of just £12.99.
What time does Ruiz vs Ortiz start?
The PPV telecast on FOX is set to begin at 9pm Eastern Time on Sunday September 4, that’s 6pm Pacific Time. The main event is likely to start around 10.30pm-11pm Eastern Time.
Where is the fight taking place?
Ruiz vs Ortiz takes place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
What titles are Ruiz and Ortiz fighting for?
There are no titles on the line Sunday night, but this is a massively important fight for one huge reason.
The WBC (World Boxing Council) has designated this bout as an eliminator for its heavyweight title, currently held by British ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury. It has done the same for the Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius showdown set for New York on October 15.
This means we expect the Ruiz/Ortiz winner to face the Wilder/Helenius winner with the position as WBC mandatory challenger on the line.
Ruiz vs Ortiz weights
The weigh-in for Ruiz vs Ortiz took place Saturday in Los Angeles, and Andy tipped the scales at 268lbs (19st 2lbs) – the same weight he had been for that famous upset of Anthony Joshua in June 2019.
Ruiz is 23lbs heavier than Ortiz – who weighed in at 245lbs (17st 7lbs).
Ruiz vs Ortiz odds
The betting for this one is fascinating, and Ruiz is the favourite heading into the bout at 1/3, with Ortiz a 3/1 underdog.
Andy Ruiz Jr record
Andy Ruiz Jr, born in Imperial Valley in California on September 11, 1989, is now 32 years old and he boasts a professional record of 34-2 – 34 victories and two defeats in 36 fights. Some 22 of those 34 victories have come inside distance.
Ruiz, who is listed at 6ft 2ins tall (1.88m) and has incredibly fast hands, has only suffered defeats in world title fights. His first came in 2016 when he dropped a majority decision to home fighter Joseph Parker in a WBO title fight in Auckland, New Zealand.
The other blemish on Ruiz’s pro resume came in December 2019 when he lost a rematch to Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia. He came in horribly out of shape that night, and lost the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles he had won six months earlier on a famous night at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
That night in MSG Ruiz, a late stand-in after Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller had failed a drugs test, overcame massive odds to get off the floor and stop the hitherto unbeaten Joshua and claim the titles. It was an upset for the ages, and showcased everything that was positive about Ruiz – notably those lightning fast hands and a pretty decent ability to recover from adversity.
Since the AJ rematch Ruiz has only fought once – a points victory over Chris Arreola in California in May 2021. He looked rusty early that night before coming on strong to claim a decision. He had Eddy Reynoso (trainer of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez) heading up his corner that night, but vs Ortiz he will have Alfredo Osuna acting as head trainer.
Luis Ortiz record
Luis Ortiz, born on March 29, 1979 in Camaguey, Cuba and now 43 years old, is the bogeyman of the heavyweight division. You don’t see him often but he is a big danger to all.
Ortiz, who stands 6ft 4ins tall (1.93m), has built a professional record of 33-2 – 33 victories and two defeats in 35 fights.
His only defeats came in WBC world heavyweight title challenges vs the fearsome puncher that is Deontay Wilder. Both times he acquitted himself well and was ahead on all scorecards in the second fight. But on both occasions Wilder detonated that equaliser in his dynamite fists to close the show early.
Should Ortiz prevail vs Ruiz Sunday, then a trilogy fight vs Wilder for the WBC mandatory spot could easily be next.
The last time Ortiz fought was a New Year’s Day 2022 showdown with former world heavyweight champion Charles Martin. The Cuban duly prevailed by stoppage, but he had to get off the floor twice to do so.
