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Andy Ruiz Jr. landed just enough big punches on Luis Ortiz to make up for his mistake, paying attention with a narrow win and continuing on his way to a chance to become heavyweight champion again. rice field.
Ruiz defeated Ortiz three times en route to a unanimous victory on Sunday night.
Former three-division world champion Abner Mares also battled Mares’ Miguel Flores, who returned from a four-year ring absence on the pay-per-view undercard, in a majority draw. Lightweight Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz stopped Eduardo Ramirez with two vicious knockdowns in the second round.
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In the main event, Lewis (35-2, 22 KOs) took the decision against two-time world title challenger Ortiz (33-3). The Southern California native knocked the 43-year-old Ortiz down twice in the second round and again in the seventh, but his Cuban opponent fought through a badly swollen left eye and both punched more accurately during long stretches of relative inactivity of fighters.
“I worked hard for this fight because I knew he was a warrior. I thought I did a great job boxing him and dealing with his pressure.
The judges scored Lewis’ bout 114-111, 114-111, 113-112. The Associated Press also had Lewis 114-111 and the knockdown made the difference.
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Lewis pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent heavyweight history when he took Anthony Joshua’s three championship belts in 2019, but six months later he was eliminated by his British opponent. lost them to Since then, Lewis has only fought once, but he devoted himself to training in hopes of aiming for the belt again.
“I don’t want to wait,” Lewis said. “I want to fight at least three or four times a year. I’m hungry. I want to be champion again.”
After entering the ring in a blue and gold robe and trunks featuring the colors of the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and the horns on his helmet, Lewis suddenly floored Ortiz with a short right hand early in the second round. I wobbled and quickly slid off trying to clinch with Lewis but made it to the bell.
“To all those who said I was old, I gave you war today,” Ortiz said. Do you think I’m done after I fight? Do people think I’m done? I don’t think so.”
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Neither player threw or risked much in the next four rounds. However, Lewis connected again late in the seventh, staggering Ortiz before sending him to the canvas with a right to the top of his head.
“It was very difficult,” Lewis said. “I waited for him to load. I ran into him when he loaded. It was a blessing that we were able to succeed.”
Earlier in the night, Cruz (24-2-1, 17 KOs) claimed a rematch with Gervonta “Tank” Davis in a two-round demolition of Ramirez, first knocking him down head-on with a left hook . chin before finishing him off with a combination in the corner.
Davis, who narrowly beat Cruz by decision last December, smiled as he watched the fight from ringside amid chants of “I want a tank!” From a cruise fan.
Mares (31-3-2) has not played since his second loss to Leo Santa Cruz in June 2018. He recovered from surgery for a retinal detachment just before the coronavirus pandemic began. Commentary work at Showtime.
Mares eventually decided to come back and looked very sharp early against Flores (25-4-1), shaking his opponent with a series of big right hands. Mares was tired in the second half, but one judge card won him 96-94. His other two he scored 95-95.
“Obviously it’s been over four years, so the timing was a little off and I was a little sluggish,” Mares said. I felt like
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The pay-per-view card kicked off with a big upset. Edwin de los Santos, a Dominican lightweight who substituted as a substitute opponent, beat previously undefeated Mexican prospect Jose Valenzuela to earn a stoppage win in the third round. I got it. De los Santos was first added to the card on Wednesday when Jezrille Corrales failed to secure a travel visa from Panama.