Andy Ruiz Overcomes a Scare to Turn Away Chris Arreola

Andres “Andy” Ruiz was a 20/1 favorite over former sparring partner Cristobal “Chris” Arreola. One would be hard-pressed to name another recent fight that anchored a pay-per-view show where the odds were so lopsided. Moreover, unlike many big fights, there was no inter-ethnic angle. This was something of a “neighborhood bragging rights” fight as both were products of Southern California communities where Spanish is the native tongue of the vast majority of the older residents.

In his first fight with new trainer Eddy Reynoso, Ruiz, 31, came in at a svelte (for him) 256 pounds, 27 ½ pounds less than he weighed for his rematch with Anthony Joshua. Arreola, who turned 40 in March, weighed a career-low 228 ½.

For three rounds the fight was outstanding. Arreola dropped Ruiz in the second round with a short right hand. Ruiz wasn’t hurt, but it appeared that he was in for a long night when Arreola wobbled him with a left hook early in the next frame. However, the last nine rounds were comparatively tame and Ruiz pulled away. The judges had it 117-110 and 118-109 twice for the victorious Ruiz, which seemed a bit wide.

Ruiz, 34-2 (22) has several options going forward but purportedly there is an agreement in place for him to fight 42-year-old Luis “King Kong” Ortiz next.

Other Bouts

In a bout between welterweights who were both coming off a loss to Yordenis Ugas, Abel Ramos dominated Omar Figueroa Jr for six rounds leading Figueroa’s trainer Joel Diaz to pull him out after the sixth. Ramos, who had fought the stiffer competition, improved to 27-4-2 (21 KOs). It was only the second pro loss for Figueroa (28-2-1) who was making his first start in 21 months and hadn’t previously been stopped. Omar’s younger brother Brandon Figueroa, who holds a 122-pound title, has a date with Luis Nery here in May.

In a junior middleweight fight slated for “12,” Sebastian Fundora, boxing’s 6-foot-6 “Towering Inferno,” scored a fourth-round stoppage of Jorge Cota. After a wild first round, things settled down somewhat. There were no knockdowns and there was still plenty of fight in Cota – albeit he was getting all the worst of it – when the referee waived it off.

Fundora (17-0-1, 12 KOs) has looked a lot better since he was held to a draw by Jamontay Clark. Cota fell to 30-5. Four of his five losses have come inside the distance.

In another 154-pound contest, Jesus Ramos, a 20-year-old-southpaw from Casa Grande, AZ, advanced to 16-0 with a lopsided 10-round decision over 2008 Mexican Olympian Javier Molina (22-4). There were no knockdowns, but Molina had a point deducted in round seven for hitting behind the head. The scores were 97-92 and 99-90 twice.

Molina was making his first start since getting out-pointed by Jose Pedraza at the MGM Bubble this past September. Ramos is the nephew of Abel Ramos.

In a shameful mismatch, former long-reigning 154-pound title holder Erislandy Lara scored a one-punch knockout over Thomas “Cornflake” La Manna. The fight lasted only 80 seconds.

Lara (28-3-3, 16 KOs) nailed LaManna (30-5-1) with an overhand left that landed on La Manna’s left ear. La Manna landed flat on his back and was unconscious before he hit the canvas. With the win, the 38-year-old Lara, who wasn’t known as a particularly hard puncher, became a title-holder at 160, acquiring the “regular” world title belt from the rack of WBA trinkets.

More

In a featherweight contest slated for 12 rounds, Eduardo Ramirez (25-2-3, 12 KOs) continued his resurgence with a third-round stoppage of Isaac Avelar (17-3).  Ramirez decked Avelar with a crisp right hook. Aveler got to his feet, but on shaky legs and when he went down again the ref stepped in and waived it off. The official time was 1:16.

In the most entertaining fight on the card, Albuquerque’s Jose Luis Sanchez (11-1-1) stepped up in class and held Adrian Granados to a draw in an 8-round welterweight slugfest. Granados (21-9-2) has been matched tough from the onset of his career, having fought six former world title-holders. Sanchez came in riding a 9-fight winning streak.

In a ho-hum heavyweight fight, former Puerto Rican Olympian Carlos Negron improved to 23-3 with an 8-round unanimous decision over Scott Alexander (16-4-2). The scores were 79-73, 78-74, and 77-75. Negron is a stablemate of Luis Ortiz.

In a swing fight that concluded the free portion of the card, 18-year-old Guadalajara lightweight Fernando Molina advanced to 6-0 (3), with a six-round unanimous decision over feisty but limited Prisco Marquez (4-3-1). The judges had it 60-53 across the board. Molina is advised by the influential Shelly Finkel.

Photo credit: Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

Check out more boxing news on video at the Boxing Channel

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE