Andy Ruiz

Andrés Ponce "Andy" Ruiz Jr. (born September 1, 1989) is a Mexican-American professional boxer who fights at heavyweight.^[1][2][3] As of June 2016, he is ranked by the WBC as their seventh best heavyweight.^[4]

Amateur career

During his amateur career, Ruiz ran his record to 104-8 under Cuban trainer Fernando Ferrer. He went on to win two Mexican National Junior Olympics gold medals and won the World Ringside Heavyweight Championship. He represented Mexico at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games qualification tournaments but lost to Cuba's Robert Alfonso and Colombian Oscar Rivas and didn't make it.^[5][6]

Professional career

Ruiz has Freddie Roach in his corner and at the Wild Card Gym. He has sparred with former UFC heavyweight champion, Andrei Arlovski.^[7] Ruiz has fought largely journeymen opposition but knocked out two amateur stars 2006 US amateur champion Jonte Willis and 2008 Golden Gloves champion Tor Hamer.

Early career

A 19 year old Ruiz made his professional debut on March 28, 2009 at the Plaza de Toros in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico in a 4 round bout against Miguel Ramirez. Ruiz won the fight via a first round KO. Ruiz fought again after 3 months at the same venue, this time knocking Ross Brantley down 3 times in round 1 winning the bout via TKO. Ruiz took an 8-month gap before he returned to the ring in February 2010 winning a 4 round unanimous decision against Juan Luis Lopez Alcaraz. A month later, Ruiz made his American debut at the Gaylord Hotel in Texas knocking out Luke Vaughn in round 1. Ruiz had his next 3 fights of 2010 also in the States defeating Miles Kelly via knockout, Raymond Lopez via unanimous decision and Francisco Diaz via knockout. On February 5, 2011 Ruiz knocked out Kelsey Arnold in the 3rd round and in the same month defeated Alvaro Morales via unanimous decision (59-55 twice, 60-54).^[8] In April 2011, Ruiz defeated Angel Herrera via a 6 round unanimous decision. In July, Ruiz fought at the Texas Station Casino, Las Vegas, defeating Villi Bloomfield via 4th round TKO.^[9] On March 23, 2013, Ruiz fought his first 8 round fight, outpointing Homero Fonseca (80-72) on all three judges scorecards.^[10] In July, Ruiz fought Jonte Willis (8-3-1, 3 KOs) at the Home Depot Center, Carson, California. Willis entered with a record of 1-3-1 in his previous five, including a split decision loss three months prior to Denis Bakhtov (33-7). Ruiz floored Willis in round 5 from a short right hand before the referee Wayne Hedgpeth stopped the bout in round 8, after a combination on unanswered punches. This was on the undercard of Donaire vs. Mathebula.^[11]

Moving up the ranks

On July 27, 2013 Ruiz traveled to Macau with Top Rank to fight at the Cotai Arena against undefeated 30 year old American Joe Hanks (21-0, 14 KOs) in a scheduled 10 round fight. Ruiz dropped Hanks twice in round 4 with fast right hands, forcing the stoppage. Ruiz claimed the vacant WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title with this win.^[12] On November 24, Ruiz fought again the Cotai Arena, this time on the Pacquiao-Rios undercard, succesfulyl defending his WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title and claiming the vacant NABF heavyweight title defeating Tor Hamer (21-2, 14 KOs). The fight was stopped after the third round when Hamer indicated he did not wish to continue.^[13]

Ruiz vs. Liakhovich

On December 20, 2014 Ruiz fought former WBO World heavyweight champion, 38 year old Siarhei Liakhovich (26-6, 16 KOs) at the Celebrity Theater in Pheonix, Arizona. Ruiz was taken to the 10 round distance, the first time in his career by Liakhovich, who trained hard for this fight and tried to win. The scorecards read (98-92, 96-94 & 99-91), all in favour of Ruiz who retained his titles. This was the last time Liakhovich fought.^[14]

After a 9-month gap, Ruiz returned to the ring on September 2015 at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California defeating Joell Godfrey via 8 round unanimous decision, all three judges scored it 80-72. Godfrey was a late replacement for Devin Vargas, who was unable to obtain a license from the California Athletic Commission.^[15] A month later, Ruiz fought veteran Raphael Zumbano Love (37-11-1, 30 KOs). Ruiz won on points after 8 rounds.

Ruiz vs. Austin

On May 14, 2016 Ruiz fought 45 year old, former world title challenger Ray Austin (29-6-4, 18 KOs) at the Sportsman's Lodge in California. Austin weighed 18 pounds more than Ruiz at the weight in. This was the first time in 14 professional fights that Ruiz was outweighed by his opponent. This was Ruiz's fourth successful defence of his NABF Heavyweight Title as Austin was down in round 1, injured his right hand and failed to come out of his corner for round 5.^[16] After this bout, Ruiz increased his record to 27 wins in as many fights.

Miscellaneous fights

Ruiz fought on July 16 against 42 year old Josh Gormley (22-4, 21 KOs) at the Masonic Temple in Michigan. Promoted by Salita Promotions.^[17] Ruiz won the fight via 3rd round TKO.^[18]

Ruiz next fought on September 10, 2016 returning to the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in California to headline "Solo Boxeo Tecate” (UniMas) against 40 year old Franklin Lawrence (21-2-2, 16 KOs) for the NABF heavyweight title.^[19] Lawrence has won his last 9 fights inside the distance dating back to 2009 when he lost to veteran Oliver McCall. His only other loss came in his 5th professional fight against future WBC World champion Bermane Stiverne, which was stopped after Lawrence injured his arm in round 1. Ruiz made a successful 5th defence of his NABF title after 10 one-sided rounds. The judges scored the fight (100-90, 99-91 twice). The win also set up a future WBO eliminator with bout with Hughie Fury.^[20]

It was announced after the Lawrence fight that Ruiz would fight Hughie Fury in the UK on October 29 at the Manchester Arena, on the undercard of Fury-Klitschko II. The winner would be the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight title.^[21] Two weeks later, it was reported that Ruiz had withdrawn because he did not want the fight.^[22]

World title challenge

Ruiz was ordered to fight Joseph Parker in New Zealand for the World Boxing Organization heavyweight world title with the fight set to take place on December 10, 2016. This fight came about by Ruiz being one of the two top ranked contenders willing to fight for the vacant title. The title became vacant when former champion Tyson Fury vacated the title.^[23]

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
30	N/A	N/A	Joseph Parker	N/A	– (12)	Dec 10, 2016	Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand	For vacant WBO heavyweight title
29	Win	29–0	Franklin Lawrence	UD	10	Sep 10, 2016	Tachi Palace, Lemoore, California, U.S.	Retained NABF heavyweight title
28	Win	28–0	Josh Gormley	TKO	3 (10), 1:42	Jul 16, 2016	Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
27	Win	27–0	Ray Austin	RTD	4 (8), 3:00	May 14, 2016	Sportsmen's Lodge, Studio City, California, U.S.	Retained NABF heavyweight title
26	Win	26–0	Raphael Zumbano Love	UD	8	Oct 24, 2015	CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
25	Win	25–0	Joell Godfrey	UD	8	Sep 26, 2015	Tachi Palace, Lemoore, California, U.S.	Retained NABF heavyweight title
24	Win	24–0	Siarhei Liakhovich	UD	10	Dec 20, 2014	Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.	Retained WBO Inter-Continental and NABF heavyweight titles
23	Win	23–0	Kenny Lemos	TKO	1 (8), 2:18	Oct 25, 2014	Selland Arena, Fresno, California, U.S.
22	Win	22–0	Manuel Quezada	TKO	2 (10), 2:00	May 17, 2014	Selland Arena, Fresno, California, U.S.	Retained WBO Inter-Continental and NABF heavyweight titles
21	Win	21–0	Tor Hamer	RTD	3 (10), 3:00	Nov 23, 2013	Cotai Arena, Macau, SAR	Retained WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title; Won vacant NABF heavyweight title
20	Win	20–0	Joe Hanks	TKO	4 (10), 1:41	Jul 27, 2013	Cotai Arena, Macau, SAR	Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title
19	Win	19–0	Carl Davis	TKO	1 (8), 0:35	Jun 8, 2013	Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
18	Win	18–0	Matthew Greer	KO	1 (8), 2:53	Mar 16, 2013	Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.
17	Win	17–0	Elijah McCall	TKO	3 (8), 2:59	Dec 7, 2012	Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
16	Win	16–0	Maurenzo Smith	KO	1 (8), 2:11	Sep 13, 2012	Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
15	Win	15–0	Jonte Willis	TKO	8 (8), 0:54	Jul 7, 2012	Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.
14	Win	14–0	Homero Fonseca	UD	8	Mar 23, 2012	Casino Del Sol, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
13	Win	13–0	Theron Johnson	UD	6	Dec 17, 2011	WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma, U.S.
12	Win	12–0	Ken Frank	TKO	2 (6), 1:53	Sep 17, 2011	BlueWater Resort & Casino, Parker, Arizona, U.S.
11	Win	11–0	Villi Bloomfield	TKO	4 (4), 2:04	Jul 15, 2011	Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Angel Herrera	UD	6	Apr 23, 2011	WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma, U.S.
9	Win	9–0	Alvaro Morales	UD	6	Feb 26, 2011	Palms Casino Resort, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Kelsey Arnold	KO	3 (6), 2:19	Feb 5, 2011	Maywood Center, Maywood, California, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	Francisco Diaz	KO	2 (4), 1:08	Dec 4, 2010	Honda Center, Anaheim, California, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Raymond Lopez	UD	4	Nov 20, 2010	WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Miles Kelly	TKO	1 (4), 1:06	Oct 16, 2010	Silverton Las Vegas, Enterprise, Nevada, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Luke Vaughn	KO	1 (4), 1:55	Mar 12, 2010	Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel & Convention Center, Grapevine, Texas, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Juan Luis Lopez Alcaraz	UD	4	Feb 12, 2010	Gimnasio Municipal, Mexicali, Mexico
2	Win	2–0	Ross Brantley	TKO	1 (6), 1:37	Jun 26, 2009	Plaza de toros Calafia, Mexicali, Mexico
1	Win	1–0	Miguel Ramirez	KO	1 (4), 0:34	Mar 28, 2009	Bullring by the Sea, Tijuana, Mexico	Professional debut

Titles in boxing

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Andy Ruiz from BoxRec