Andy Ruiz knew last night’s fight with Luis Ortiz was pretty much a “loser leave town” match.
Both fighters needed a win to get back into the heavyweight contender conversation. For Ruiz his commitment to boxing was questioned after winning the title against Anthony Joshua.
He enjoyed his win a little too much ala Roberto Duran after his first fight with Sugar Ray Leonard and paid dearly. He was woefully overweight in the rematch where he lost the title back to Joshua.
For Ortiz, there were whispers of Father Time. In his win over Charles Martin, Ortiz had picked himself up off the canvas twice before stopping Martin but all the signs were there. With a loss, Ortiz would know that winning enough fights at his age would be borderline impossible.
With that being the backdrop, it was Ruiz who kept his reservations in town with a unanimous decision win. He put Ortiz down three times including twice in the second and, ultimately, he needed it. Ortiz fought like a desperate fighter winning rounds just not as decisive. The judges scorecards were 113-112, 114-111, 114-111.
“It was a difficult fight,” Ruiz said. “I was waiting for him to load up and countering him when he did. It was a blessing we were able to be successful. I want to fight at least three or four times a year. I’m hungry and I want to be champion again and bring that belt back to Mexico.”
After the cards were read, former heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder, made his way into the ring. Wilder makes his return to boxing next month when he faces Robert Helenius in Brooklyn. He hinted that a win could set up a fight between him and Ruiz.
It’s a fight Ruiz would take in a heartbeat. “If Deontay (Wilder) wins in October, me and him are with the same management and we can make this fight happen. Let’s do it. Let’s get it on.”
