Avila Perspective, Chap 201: Giant Killers and More

LOS ANGELES-Giant killers in heavyweight boxing like Andy Ruiz have existed since the beginning of prizefighting. Can his ability to disrupt bigger men continue?

Though listed at 6-2, the smaller Ruiz (34-2, 22 KOs) meets yet another much taller foe in Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (33-2, 28 KOs) at the Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Sept. 3. FOX pay-per-view will televise the main portion of the TGB Promotions event.

“Beating Luis Ortiz will help me become a world champion again. That’s the reason I’m still fighting. I want to become a two-time world champion,” said Ruiz, the smaller former heavyweight world champion from California.

Once again Ruiz is tasked with taking down another bigger man.

Perhaps the greatest of the giant killers was Jack Dempsey the “Manassa Mauler” who shocked the boxing world back on July 4, 1919 when he battered the much bigger Jess Willard to take away the heavyweight world title. The “Pottawatomie Giant” didn’t stand a chance against the merciless Dempsey.

Max Baer came along in 1934 and floored giant Primo Carnera so many times for the heavyweight championship that journalists argued on the number of times Carnera bounced off the ground. After 11 rounds the world title changed hands that June 14 night in New York City.

Three years ago, Ruiz was signed as a substitute to fill the role as sacrificial lamb to then-champion Anthony Joshua. The match took place June 1, 2019 at Madison Square Garden with many attendees expecting a massacre to take place. No one doubted the outcome and British fans celebrated early.

Once the fight commenced and Ruiz was floored by Joshua in the third round, fans of the British heavyweight laughed and cheered expecting the end to come quickly. But when the California heavyweight with Mexican blood rose and dropped Joshua gasps erupted throughout the arena. And when Joshua was floored again jaws dropped.

The British heavyweight who held the WBA, WBO and IBF titles lasted another four rounds until Ruiz connected again in the seventh round. Joshua was floored and got up but was quickly attacked and stopped at 1:27 of the round. Ruiz became the first Mexican heavyweight to win the world titles. It was history that lasted for what seemed like only a moment.

Most fans know what happened later as promoter Eddie Hearn pressured Ruiz to accept an immediate rematch and Joshua was able to reverse the outcome by out-boxing the smaller Ruiz. Last month, Joshua was beaten again by a much smaller man, Oleksandr Usyk. He lost the rematch.

Ruiz has been forgotten in the shuffle, but he has not forgotten he once held those titles.

“Losing all those titles that I won broke my heart. This is another chance for me to become champion and I don’t want to lose it. I want to take full advantage of it and do my best,” said Ruiz.

Cuba’s Ortiz never held the heavyweight titles. He wants his turn.

“Every fight is important, but this is especially important because the winner will hopefully fight to become heavyweight champion of the world. It’s the most important fight for both of us right now,” said Ortiz who has fought twice for the title and lost each time.

Ortiz expects a knockout ending.

“One of us is going down, and I’m making sure it’s Andy,” Ortiz said.

Ruiz expects a win, but by decision, and shrugs at Ortiz’s prediction.

“We want to destroy each other,” said Ruiz. “I’m going to have my hand raised.”

Sunday, it begins at 6 p.m.

Other PBC bouts

It’s a pretty impressive fight card that features rising stars and longtime greats like three-division champion Abner Mares fighting Miguel Flores in perhaps the last fight of his career.

“I’m in a different position coming back after four years. I’ve had a lot of memorable nights here in Los Angeles. I’ve had great fights here,” said Mares, a former Olympian who grew up in Southern California.

A hot lightweight prospect Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (12-0, 8 KOs) meets Edwin De Los Santos (14-1, 13 KOs) a last-minute replacement who was preparing for another fight when called to fill in.

Valenzuela, a tall lanky fighter from Washington, has been touted by many in boxing circles as a sure-fire future champion. He gets tested against Dominican knockout artist De Los Santos, a southpaw.

“I want to thank him for stepping in and taking this fight. Edwin is a hell of a fighter with a lot of knockouts,” said Valenzuela. “I think he’s going to bring the best out of me and make sure we give the fans a great show.”

Another and perhaps the most anticipated match on the undercard pits Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (23-2-1, 16 KOs) in a Mexican lightweight clash with Eduardo Ramirez (27-2-3, 12 KOs). Its Mexican versus Mexican again for Cruz who wowed L.A. fans when he fought Gervonta “Tank” Davis in the same Crypto.com Arena back in December. He’s a buzzsaw looking to win by any means necessary.

“It’s going to be a tough fight and a war for as long as it lasts,” said Cruz ominously.

Abu Dhabi title fight

WBA light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol and number one challenger Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez gathered at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to announce their clash on Nov. 5, 2022. DAZN will stream the fight.

Bivol accepted the challenge and will be fighting his second consecutive Mexican fighter. He defeated pound for pound king Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to become only the second to accomplish the feat. Now he will be the smaller man when he faces Ramirez.

“I like to fight against the guy who has won 44 fights and who is bigger than me and taller than me. This is a big challenge for me. I hope it will be a great fight on November 5,” said Bivol on Wednesday.

Ramirez, a former super middleweight world titlist, is relieved about the opportunity.

“I’ve been waiting so long for this moment and I just want to say thank you to Dmitry Bivol for taking this fight,” Ramirez said.

Social Gloves

Celebrity boxing led by a mixture of sports stars and influencers such as NBA star Nick “Swaggy P” Young, NFL stars Adrian Peterson and Le’Veon Bell and in the main event Austin McBroom versus AnEson Gib facing off in a battle between YouTube stars on Saturday Sept. 10, at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.

Bash Promotions is staging the event called Social Gloves: “No More Talk” and tickets can be purchased at www.BancOfCaliforniaStadium.com and www.Ticketmaster.com .  The boxing card will also be available to watch at SocialGloves.TV, FITE on pay-per-view.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Women in power

Also, on Saturday September 10, the biggest all-female fight card takes place with Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall, Mikaela Mayer vs Alycia Baumgardner; and several other female fights in London, England. ESPN will televise the spectacular boxing extravaganza.

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Juan Francisco Estrada (42-3, 28 KOs) vs Argi Cortes (23-2-2, 10 KOs); Erica Cruz (14-1) vs Jelena Mrdjenovich (41-11-2).

Sun. FS1 4 p.m. Ra’eese Aleem (19-0) vs Mike Plania (26-1).

Sun. FOX ppv 6 p.m. Andy Ruiz (34-2) vs Luis Ortiz (33-2); Isaac Cruz (23-2-1) vs Eduardo Ramirez (27-2-3); Abner Mares (31-3-1) vs Miguel Flores (25-4); Jose Valenzuela (12-0) vs Edwin De Los Santos (14-1).

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