Andy Ruiz Jr.

At the age of 29, Andy is a nine-year pro. A heavyweight contender, he is a former amateur standout.

Andy challenged hometown favorite Joseph Parker for the vacant WBO heavyweight world title on December 10 in Auckland, New Zealand, but lost a very close and controversial 12-round majority decision – many observers thought he deserved to win.

He’s come back with two wins since then.

In his last fight on July 7, 2018, in Fresno, California, he won a 10-round unanimous decision against Kevin Johnson.

ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael reported from ringside [excerpts]: Andy Ruiz easily won by scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 97-93 over Johnson, who landed a few stiff jabs but did little else.

Ruiz was fighting for only the second time since he dropped a tight majority decision to Joseph Parker for a vacant world title in December 2016. Ruiz did not fight again until March, when he blew out 2004 U.S. Olympian Devin Vargas in the first round, so promoter Top Rank was hoping Ruiz would be extended to get in some rounds, which is Johnson’s specialty. He has only been stopped twice in his career, and while Ruiz didn’t come close to knocking him out, he did stun him a few times, including when he pinned him in the corner during the fifth round. [End Rafael item]

In his post-fight interview, Andy said, “I still need some work, but having these 10 rounds was a good experience. We’re just improving and getting better. I’d love to face any of the big guys out there, and they’ll probably underestimate me after this performance. The next one will be different.”

In earlier interviews, Andy said, “I represent Mexicali, Baja California. I always trained in Mexicali since I was young.

“I’m a fast, explosive guy, pressure. I try to dominate my opponent. When I was an amateur, everybody would say, “This kid is really slick, really fast.’ When I came to the pros, I used that speed and it’s working pretty good.”

AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Andy said, “I was born in Imperial Valley, California. I have a younger brother and an older sister. My dad, Andres Ruiz, has his own construction company and my mom, Felicitas Ruiz, she’s a housewife. I’m the only boxer in the family. My grandfather used to be a trainer.

“I was six years old when I first started training and I was seven years old when I had my first fight. I was a little troublemaker when I was young. I was fighting and all that, and my dad just took me in there to the gym.

“I had 135 amateur fights – I probably had 11 losses and the rest wins. I was on the Mexican Olympic team, fighting over there in the Trials to qualify for the Olympics. We traveled to Cuba and to China, to Guatemala, a lot of places to go compete.

“When I was on the Olympic team, I was training in Mexicali. I started training there when I was about 13. Ever since I was young, I was on the Baja team – like the national team for younger kids. Some Cuban guy trained me. I made the Olympic team when I was 17.”…

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:

2008 MEXICAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Naucalpan, Mexico, Mexico, 201+ pounds – GOLD MEDALIST: in the quarterfinals on 12-10-08 he stopped Jose Luis Castro in the 3^rd round; in the semifinals on 12-11-08 he won a 12-0 decision against Yusett Savala; in the finals on 12-12-08 he stopped (2^nd round) Juan Isidro Hiracheta…

2008 AMERICAN OLYMPIC QUALIFIER – Guatemala City, Guatemala, 201+ pounds: in his first fight on 4-26-08 he stopped German Sandi of Costa Rica in the 1^st round; in the quarterfinals on 4-27-08 he lost a 16-4 decision against Oscar Rivas of Colombia…

2008 AMERICAN OLYMPIC QUALIFIER – Port of Spain, Trinidad, 201+ pounds: in his first fight on 3-12-08 he won a 24-7 decision against Geraldo Bisbal of Puerto Rico; in the quarterfinals on 3-15-08 he lost a 7-3 decision against Roberto Alfonso of Cuba…

2008 DUAL U.S.-MEXICO – San Diego, California, 201+ pounds: on 1-18-08 he lost a 16-9 decision against Mike Wilson of the U.S….

2007 MEXICAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico, 201+ pounds – GOLD MEDALIST: in the finals on 12-7-07 he won by walkover against Alex Rivera…

2007 PRE-OLYMPIC TOURNAMENT – Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 201+ pounds: in the quarterfinals on 11-19-07 he lost a 28-9 decision against Zhang Zhilei of China…

2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Chicago, Illinois, 201+ pounds: in his first fight on 10-24-07 he was stopped in the 3^rd round against Michael Hunter of the U.S….

2005 MEXICAN JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico, 201+ pounds – GOLD MEDALIST: in the semifinals on 5-28-05 he won by walkover against Luis Zapari; in the finals on 5-30-05 he won an 18-11 decision against Carlos Saucedo…

STRENGTHS: Has good skills, speed, and movement…has good punching power…is experienced against good opposition…had a strong amateur background…

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 32 fights…139 total rounds…12 world championship rounds…

AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: 4.3 rounds…

KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: of total fights – 62 %…of wins – 64 %…

DISTANCE FIGHTS: 12 rounds – 1 (0-1)…10 rounds – 3 (3-0)…8 rounds – 4 (4-0)…