Former Heavyweight Champion Andy Ruiz Jr. Knocks Down Luis Ortiz ...

Skip to main content Skip to navigation < > Ruiz floors Ortiz in unanimous-decision victory3yMike CoppingerFloyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are fighting: Is this 2011?4dDan WetzelWhat to know about Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao rematch5dAndreas HaleNavarrete unifies titles with destruction of Nunez14hGerman GarciaUsyk to face kickboxer at Pyramids of Giza in May2dAndreas HaleBenn to fight Prograis on Fury undercard in London3dJames ReganKatie Taylor plans retirement after Dublin fight4dJames ReganPacquiao team pumps brakes on Provodnikov bout5dAndreas HaleMayweather-Pacquiao 2 set for Sept. at Sphere6dAndreas HaleShields keeps title with win vs. rival Crews-Dezurn7dEric WoodyardWomen's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: A unanimous choice for No. 13dESPNMen's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Bivol, Beterbiev out; who replaces them?4dBoxing divisional rankings: Ryan Garcia enters welterweight top five5hAndreas HaleBoxing is better when Ryan Garcia is on top of his game8dAndreas HaleBoxing results: Ryan Garcia dominates Mario Barrios, wins first title8dAndreas HaleBurning boxing questions: How will the heavyweight division shake out in 2026?17dNick ParkinsonBoxing divisional rankings: Ryan Garcia enters welterweight top five5hAndreas HaleNavarrete unifies titles with destruction of Nunez14hGerman GarciaBoxing schedule15hESPNBoxing champions list15hWomen's boxing divisional rankings: Claressa Shields still reigns at heavyweight18hAndreas HaleUsyk to face kickboxer at Pyramids of Giza in May2dAndreas HaleFloyd Mayweather Jr.: Biography, record, fights and more2dESPNBenn to fight Prograis on Fury undercard in London3dJames ReganWomen's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: A unanimous choice for No. 13dESPNKatie Taylor plans retirement after Dublin fight4dJames ReganA champion's gift: Muhammad Ali's gloves to head to Obama Presidential Center4dBrianna WilliamsMen's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Bivol, Beterbiev out; who replaces them?4dFloyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are fighting: Is this 2011?4dDan WetzelPacquiao team pumps brakes on Provodnikov bout5dAndreas HaleWhat to know about Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao rematch5dAndreas HaleManny Pacquiao: Biography, record, fights and more5dESPNMayweather-Pacquiao 2 set for Sept. at Sphere6dAndreas Hale

• Mike CoppingerSep 5, 2022, 01:25 AM ETClose
  Mike Coppinger has covered boxing since 2010 with roles at USA Today, Ring Magazine and The Athletic before he joined ESPN in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger

Multiple Authors

• 
• Email
• Print

Andy Ruiz Jr. floored Luis Ortiz three times en route to a unanimous-decision victory Sunday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The scores: 114-111, 113-112 and 114-111.

With the win, Ruiz is in line for a shot at the WBC title held by Tyson Fury, who is in talks to fight Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship. Deontay Wilder, who was ringside Sunday and returns next month, is another possibility for a Ruiz matchup next year.

"If Deontay wins in October, me and him are with the same management and we can make this fight happen," said Ruiz, ESPN's No. 5 heavyweight. "Let's get it on. I'm hungry and I want to be champion again and bring that belt back to Mexico."

Ruiz (32-2, 22 KOs) scored two knockdowns in Round 2 and showed off his damaging power throughout the 12-round contest. The first knockdown was the product of a blistering right hand that connected on Ortiz's temple, an equilibrium shot that seemed to impact Ortiz's balance for the remainder of the fight.

The second knockdown appeared to be a dubious call, with seemingly no clean punch landed.

Ortiz (33-3, 28 KOs) boxed effectively from the outside, utilizing his southpaw jab to control distance. However, every time Ortiz stood and traded, Ruiz usually won the exchanges. The 32-year-old consistently beat Ortiz to the punch, shots that affected the 43-year-old time and again.

The Cuban was on wobbly legs in Round 2 but punched his way out of trouble and punctuated the round with a counter right hand that stunned Ruiz. Ortiz, who weighed 245.5 pounds, also rocked Ruiz toward the end of the opening round with a right hand. If it weren't for the knockdowns, Ortiz would have pulled out a draw on the scorecards.

"It was a difficult fight," said Ruiz, who weighed 268¾ pounds. "I was waiting for him to load up and countering him when he did. ... Ortiz is a warrior who hits hard. I did a beautiful job boxing him around. I showed more class than I usually do just coming forward."

Ortiz outboxed Ruiz in Rounds 4 and 5, but the Southern Californian found the target again in Round 7 for another knockdown, the result of another compact right hand.

By the end of the penultimate round, Ortiz's left eye was badly damaged, swelling exacerbated by a brutal straight right hand that connected in the waning moments of Round 11.

The underdog pushed for the KO in Round 12 and landed a few telling shots, but never seriously threatened Ruiz with his power.

The defeat is Ortiz's second in four fights, the other a highlight-reel KO at the hands of Wilder in a 2019 rematch for the WBC title. Ortiz was also stopped by Wilder in their 2018 meeting. He entered the fight rated No. 8 at heavyweight by ESPN.

"Everybody that said 'King Kong' is old, well, I gave you a war today," said Oritz, who survived two knockdowns en route to a TKO-6 victory against Charles Martin on New Year's Day. "I want a rematch. I was keeping my hands up so my vision wasn't a problem. Do you think I'm done? You saw a warrior tonight."

Ruiz, meanwhile, is in position for another crack at a heavyweight title. He became the first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent when he TKOd Anthony Joshua in June 2019, one of the biggest upsets in division history.

Ruiz was overweight when he faced Joshua in the rematch six months later and dropped his three titles via decision.

He's fought just twice since that December 2019 night in Saudi Arabia: a decision win over Chris Arreola last May, and now a victory over Ortiz.