Andy Ruiz

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).^[7] 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.^[8] He returned to the Casino on December 7 and defeated Elijah McCall (11-1-1, 10 KOs), son of former world champion Oliver, via TKO a second before round 3 ended. Kenny Bayless, the referee, stopped the fight after McCall stopped defending himself. Ruiz's hand speed was shwcased in this fight.^[9]

On March 23, 2012, 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.^[12] 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.^[13] On November 24, Ruiz fought again the Cotai Arena, this time on the Pacquiao-Rios undercard, successfully 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.^[14] Over the 3 rounds, Ruiz landed 74 of 213 punches landed (35%) and Hamer landed 49 of his 131 thrown (37%) before he quit on his stool. This was the second time Hamer had retired on his stool following his previous loss to Vyacheslav Glazkov in December 2012. His promoter Lou DiBella announced Hamer had been released og his contract.^[15][16]

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 Phoenix, Arizona.^[17] 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. Ruiz revealed he fractured his right hand during the second round.^[18][19] In June 2015, Ruiz began training with well-known trainer Abel Sanchez, who's most notable boxer was Gennady Golovkin.^[20]

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.^[21] A month later, Ruiz fought veteran Raphael Zumbano Love (37-11-1, 30 KOs). Ruiz won on points after 8 rounds.^[22]

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.^[23] 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.^[24] After this bout, Ruiz increased his record to 27 wins in as many 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.^[25] Ruiz won the fight via 3rd-round TKO.^[26]

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.^[27] 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.^[28]

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 the cancelled remach between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko. The winner would be the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight title.^[29] Two weeks later, it was reported that Ruiz had withdrawn because he did not want the fight.^[30]

Career from 2018

On December 19, 2017 Angel "Memo" Heredia, a well known strength and conditioning trainer, confirmed that he would be working alongside Ruiz. Ruiz was next to make a ring return on February 3, 2018 on the undercard of Gilberto Ramirez vs. Habib Ahmed WBO super middleweight championship title fight at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.^[38] Ruiz did not appear on the card and instead his return was pushed back to take place at the StubHub Center in Carson California on the undercard of Óscar Valdez vs. Scott Quigg on March 10. In his absence from the ring, he explained, "I just wanted to take a break. I already have 30 fights. I wanted to be with the family, I started investing my money. I started building houses. But every boxers needs that little break and now I've got to come back harder." American boxer Devin Vargas (20-4, 8 KOs) was confirmed as his opponent in a scheduled 8 round bout.^[39] Ruiz knocked Vargas out in round 1. He landed a big right hand to the head of Vargas, dropping him. Referee Thomas Taylor called off the fight. The official time of the stoppage was at 1:38 of round 1. Ruiz showed good power and speed during the short fight. For the bout, Ruiz trained with Manny Robles.^[40]

His next fight was scheduled to take place on July 7, 2018 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California against veteran journeyman Kevin Johnson (32-9-1, 16 KOs). The main goal for this bout was for Ruiz to get in some much needed rounds, having only completed less than a round in over a year. Johnson, who had previously only been stopped twice in his 9 losses, was known for his toughness having taken the likes of Kubrat Pulev, Dereck Chisora, Tyson Fury and Vitali Klitschko, the 12 round distance.^[41] Ruiz dominated Johnson over 10 rounds, winning via unanimous decision with the scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 97-93. Johnson did not do much apart from throw a strong jab from time to time. It was Ruiz who was busy and remained in control for majority of the bout. Ruiz admitted it was good to go the distance and called out some of the better heavyweights, namely Jarrell Miller.^[42]