Luis Ortiz faces Andy Ruiz Jr. on Sunday, live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
As the weekend approaches, the Premier Boxing Champions returns on Sunday night to bring you heavyweight boxing on FOX PPV. Former Unified Heavyweight Champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (34-2) faces battle-tested Luis Ortiz (33-2) for a chance to fight for the WBC title in the near future. With both men having world experience under their belt, this fight brings a certain level of intrigue. Ruiz Jr wants to get back on the road to the championship, while Ortiz avoids getting punched in retirement.
Ortiz, from Camague, Cuba, and residing in Miami was considered the “bogeyman” in the heavyweight division for several years where his movement and striking power were a deadly combination. In 2018, former WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder (42-2-1) gave a run for his money until he fell victim to that powerful right hand. Ortiz had a rematch against Wilder in 2019 and had success until he was caught again with his right hand, ending the fight.
After his win in November 2020 over Alexandre Flores (18-3-1), Ortiz took a 13-month sabbatical before returning to the ring. He faced Charles Martin on New Year’s Day and was victorious by TKO in the sixth round. So who is Ortiz in 2022? “Luis Ortiz in 2022 has the same expectations: to become the heavyweight champion. I am a man who is always ready. My coach knows. I work hard every day as if it is my fight tomorrow,” the 43-year-old heavyweight competitor said.
Luis Ortiz vs Andy Ruiz Jr. match will be broadcast live on FOX Sports PPV and the FOX Sports app.
Yes, Ortiz is 43 years old and isn’t shy about admitting it to whoever asks. The running joke on social media is that it’s a lot bigger than what BoxRec says, but it’s a good sport when you bring it up. Regardless, it must be tough to compete at a high level when daddy time knocks on your head as Biff does to Marty McFly in Back to the Future. When asked about his age and his motives, Ortiz smiled and said, “How old are you? Are you confident in yourself? A person who does not believe in himself will not succeed anywhere in life. When you have a strong mind and dream big, these are the people you should be aware of.” them”.
Coming into the topic of bootcamp, Ortiz first made it clear that all of his fights are tough and that the easiest thing to go through after bootcamp is the fight itself. He has kept his squad, and the site of his training camp as is, which is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, under the direction of Hermann Caicedo, who is responsible for preparing him for the fight against Ruiz Jr. In Las Vegas it comes at a price as he must be separated from his family so he can focus solely on the task at hand.
This mission is a former Unified Champion who seems to be hungrier than ever to reclaim something he once had, the heavyweight crown. Ortiz is totally hungry and always looking to close the show before the last bell sounds. Ortiz told FanSided, “What I’m looking forward to is for the referee to finish talking and ring the bell so we can see what happens in the fight.”
With Ortiz in his 40s, the question had to be asked as to how long he’d be looking to hook up the gloves. “I don’t know,” Ortiz said. “I train alongside some guys, and they laugh and make jokes when I hit them the first time. But then I keep hitting them and telling them ‘Come on, let’s go’ (laughs). I love the sport of boxing.” That doesn’t sound like a fighter ready to hang up his gloves anytime soon.
Ortiz has a message for those who tune into Sunday nights for FOX PPV. “For those who know me and don’t know me, I’m a boxer who loves to pursue his goals, and that’s winning. I’m not here to win by decision because it takes a lot of work. When I get in the ring, my mentality is to knock you out or out. When a fighter looks in my eyes, he knows I’m I’m going there with bad intentions. I’m not here to put up with anyone and make them sit for twelve rounds watching me fight. It will be a war all the way if it lasts twelve rounds.”
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