This Saturday, September 4th live at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles, California, two elite heavyweights look to assert themselves back in the title picture as former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. takes on Cuban powerhouse, former interim WBA title holder and WBC title challenger Luis Ortiz.
Andy Ruiz Jr (34-2, 22 KO) is known for defeating former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. It was the moment that changed Ruiz Jr’s career and life altogether after knocking out the British superstar, breaking his undefeated record and shocking the world on the levels of Buster Douglas defeating Mike Tyson.
However, the spoils of success and money ran its course on Ruiz Jr as he lacked discipline in the rematch as ‘The Destroyer’ came up short against Joshua in a masterclass boxing performance on ‘A.J’s part
Now coming off a decision victory over former WBC title challenger Chris Arreola, Ruiz Jr looks to add more momentum on his way back to the top against Ortiz as he will look to put pressure on the Cuban boxer, suffocating him with his fast and explosive combinations.
Luis Ortiz (33-2, 28 KO) will hold the height and reach advantage which means Ruiz will look to work in the pocket while Ortiz establishes a jab to open up his patented lead hook.
Ortiz has been known to give power punchers fits as he went a close decision loss with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in the first meeting of their fights. Ortiz went on to lose the second via devastating knockout loss.
Now at 43 years old, ‘King Kong’ gets what could be the last crack at heavyweight glory.
The undercard for Ruiz Jr vs Ortiz is also stacked as Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz (23-2-1, 16 KO) returns to face Eduardo Ramirez (23-2-1, 16 KO) for the vacant WBC Silver lightweight title. And also, former world champion Abner Mares (31-3-1, 15 KO) returns to lightweight as he faces Miguel Flores (24-4, 12 KO)