Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Luis Ortiz Betting: Will Ruiz make a winning return in first fight in over a year?

Former world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr returns to action this weekend when taking on former title challenger Luis Ortiz.

This bout will be part of a stacked card taking place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where a capacity crowd will be boosted by the millions watching around the world.

Fight fans are eager to catch a glimpse of The Destroyer to see what kind of shape he is in and how much desire he has left after winning and then losing the championship belts inside a rollercoaster six months. Does he remain hungry, focused and ready to regain the belts or has the unexpected title win wrecked his career? We’ll find out.

Ruiz is the main attraction in LA, but he can’t afford to look beyond a talented opponent in Ortiz, who has made a name for himself as a fighter capable of causing an upset. The Cuban southpaw is an awkward as they come and plans to use that to nick a win over Ruiz and this fight has the potential to become a nail-biting shoot-out.

Andy Ruiz vs. Luis Ortiz Fight Information & Betting Odds

Fight Information

• Andy Ruiz famously knocked out Londoner Anthony Joshua in stunning fashion at Madison Square Garden in New York.
• Luis Ortiz twice faced Deontay Wilder for the world's heavyweight championship but was taken out by the Bronze Bomber on both occasions.
• Ruiz carries a 61% knockout average into this contest, having stopped 22 opponents already, while Ortiz has a 76% KO average.
• Venue & Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles, California)
• Start Time: approximately 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (8:00 p.m. local time)

Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Luis Ortiz Betting Odds

Odds are from Bovada Sportsbook.

Moneyline

• Andy Ruiz -400
• Luis Ortiz +310

Total Rounds Over/Under

• Over 9.5 rounds (+100)
• Under 9.5 rounds (-130)

Will the Fight Go the Distance?

• Yes (+160)
• No (-200)

Return of the Destroyer

Andy Ruiz caused one of the biggest upsets in professional boxing history when the Californian knocked out Londoner Anthony Joshua in New York to relieve the Olympic Games gold medallist of his titles.

He only had them on loan as AJ won the belts back in a quick-fire return that was fought in Saudi Arabia less than six months after the original bout.

That knockout win will live long in the memory of fight fans as they saw Ruiz haul himself off the canvas early in the bout to test the champion’s chin.

It became clear that Joshua was in a world of trouble, and Ruiz has never been slow in finishing a fight that’s there to be won. He became one of the most famous names in sport overnight.

The one problem with becoming heavyweight champion of the world and an overnight sensation is it was all too much for Ruiz to handle.

The new champion seemed to have a drink to celebrate with just about everyone he met in the weeks after that fight, and when he stepped into the ring in Jeddah, he was in far worse shape than the first bout, and Joshua made him pay, scoring a wide points decision win.

Last five results for Andy Ruiz Jr.

• Won on points
• Lost on points
• Won via knockout (seventh round)
• Won via knockout (fifth round)
• Won on points

The comeback is on for Ruiz

Since losing to AJ at the Jeddah Superdome, Ruiz went off the radar, and we didn’t see too much of him in or around a boxing gym.

It was thought his career would slip, and the former champion would become nothing more than the subject of an interesting story, a footnote in the history books of professional heavyweight boxing, but he’s back.

The fighting pride of Imperial, California, now boasts a professional record of 34 wins against two defeats, with 22 wins scored inside the distance and both losses coming on points. He was beaten on the scorecards by Joe Parker in New Zealand when many thought he’d done enough to win before losing to Joshua in that 2019 rematch.

Ruiz has fought just once since losing to AJ with a win over the respected Chris Arreola in Carson last May. With Ruiz winning on points that night, getting off the canvas in round two to claim every round, it’s a shame he then disappeared again for over a year, and it’ll be interesting to see just how much love he has left for boxing.

Ortiz is no pushover

The pre-match betting has Ruiz as the nailed-on favourite and most likely winner of this bout, but anyone who knows boxing knows Ruiz is no mere opponent. The Cuban is a talented boxer with a style that can give opponents nightmares, but he’s also a heavy, hard-hitting boxer with a desire to win every battle.

Ortiz brings a professional record of 33 wins against two defeats, with 28 victories coming by way of knockout and two losses coming inside the distance. King Kong is currently ranked at number 10 in the world, but he is 43 years old, and it’s likely we have already seen the best of him as a contender.

Ortiz’s two losses came against Deontay Wilder, with the Bronze Bomber knocking him out in round 10 in 2018 and again in round seven a year later.

Ortiz was ahead on points at the time of both stoppages, but there was no denying the right man won, with Wilder relying on his freakish knockout power to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Last five results for Luis Ortiz

• Won via TKO (sixth round)
• Won via knockout (first round)
• Lost via knockout (seventh round)
• Won on points
• Won via knockout (tenth round)

Ortiz seeks third straight win

Since losing to Wilder for the second time, Ortiz has fought twice and won twice, stopping Alexander Flores inside a round in Los Angeles before stopping Charles Martin in six last time out before a Hollywood audience.

The latter was a breath-taking bout with Ruiz down in rounds one and four, Martin sent to the canvas twice in round six before he was stopped.

He may be 43 years old, but Ortiz is never in a dull fight, and we’re impressed by his recent form, winning each of his last two. He has been more active than his opponent and that could make the difference on fight night.

Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Luis Ortiz Prediction: Ortiz to win

Andy Ruiz Jr. Luis Ortiz Betting Tip: Ortiz win @ +240 (Bovada Sportsbook)