Andy Ruiz Jr. headlines at the Staples Center tonight.
Andy Ruiz Jr. takes on Luis Ortiz tonight in the main event of a PBC pay-per-view at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena (which will always be known as the Staples Center). The veteran heavyweights come into this one with a combined 67 pro wins and 50 KOs, so there could be fireworks in Tinseltown this evening.
Ruiz (34-2, 22 KO) shot to fame with his emphatic KO of Anthony Joshua at MSG in 2019, earning him the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles. Six months later he lost a rematch with Joshua (and all those titles), via decision. That loss was just the second on Ruiz’s record, joining a decision loss to Joseph Parker from 2016.
Ortiz (33-2, 28 KO) turned 43-years-old in March. He’s a former WBA interim heavyweight champion and WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight champion. In 2018 he lost to Deontay Wilder, by TKO, in a bout for the WBC heavyweight title. His only other loss was also to Wilder, a KO at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2019.
Lightweights make up the rest of the PPV card with Isaac Cruz (23-2-1, 16 KO) taking on Eduardo Ramirez (27-2-3, 12 KO), Abner Mares (31-3-1, 15 KO) returning from a lengthy spell on sidelines to fight Miguel Flores (25-4, 12 KO) and (12-0, 8 KO) facing Edwin De Los Santos (14-1, 13 KO).
The FOX prelim is a battle of undefeated middleweights with Joey Spencer (15-0, 10 KO) meeting Kevin Salgado (14-0-1, 9 KO).
The FS1 prelim features junior featherweight contender Ra’eese Aleem (19-0, 12 KO) meeting Mike Plania (26-1, 13 KO) in what could be one of the best fights on the night.
HOW TO WATCH
The PPV card gets rolling at 9PM ET. The PPV is available through Fox Sports PPV in the US and fite.tv for $59.99.
The PPV card has four fights and it is expected that the main event ring walks will take place at around 12 AM ET.
There are two prelim bouts scheduled for this event. The first happens at 7PM ET on FS1 and the second is planned for 8PM ET on FOX.
LIVE RESULTS
Main card (9PM ET on Fox Sports PPV):
Heavyweight (12 rounds): Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Luis Ortiz
Lightweight (12 rounds): Isaac Cruz vs. Eduardo Ramirez
Lightweight (10 rounds): Abner Mares vs. Miguel Flores
Lightweight (10 rounds): Jose Valenzuela vs. Edwin De Los Santos
Prelim (8PM ET on FOX)
Middleweight (10 rounds): Joey Spencer vs. Kevin Salgado
Prelim (7PM ET on FS1)
Junior featherweight (10 rounds): Ra’eese Aleem vs. Mike Plania
For more boxing coverage check out our friends over at Bad Left Hook.