Former unified heavyweight champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. (34-2, 22 KO's) of Imperial, California won a hard-fought unanimous decision over a very tough Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (38-7-1, 33 KO's) of Riverside, California Saturday night in front of 3,940 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California in the first boxing event since the shutdown and first ever Mexican heavyweight showdown on FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View.
Wasting no time, Ruiz and Arreola began throwing at from the opening bell with Ruiz connecting solidly and going to the body. During an exchange in round two, Arreola connected with a short right on top of Ruiz head scoring a knockdown as everyone was on their feet. Ruiz was up fighting but Arreola once again connected with a right hand. Arreola continued where he left off as he staggered Ruiz to the ropes, but the former champ continued to fight and hang on.
In the fifth, Ruiz got his composure as Arreola slowed his pace. The former world champion appeared to have adapted and neutralize Arreola, Ruiz boxed and used combinations to score, Arreola didn’t appear to be phased. In the seventh, Ruiz worked the jab and mixed in combinations. The eighth-round saw, Ruiz connect with a solid right, moments later Arreola appeared to be bothered by pain on his arm.
Late in the fight in the ninth, Ruiz let his hands go but Arreola was still on the hunt. Ruiz outworked Arreola in the tenth round, jabbing away and mixing in combinations as Arreola was limited and appeared to be hurt from his arm. Coming out strong for the eleventh, Ruiz attacked despite have blood trickling down his nose as Arreola continued to stand his ground making it thus far. The final round was all pressure for Ruiz as Arreola held his own in giving a valiant effort and making it entertaining.
In going the distance, the judges scored the bout 118-109, 118-109, and 117-110 as Ruiz wins a unanimous decision.
In the co-feature bout Phoenix’s welterweight Abel Ramos (27-4-2, 21 KOs) stopped Omar Figueroa Jr (28-2-1, 19 KOs) of Welasco, Texas in a WBA title eliminator. Figueroa applied the pressure from the start as he worked his way inside on Ramos. A nasty shiner underneath the left eye of Figueroa began to develop as Ramos tagged him with the solid right. Ramos kept bringing the pressure as it was too much for Figueroa and did not come out for the seventh as he was spitting out blood, the bout was stopped at the end of the sixth.
Indio, California super welterweight Sebastián “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora (17-0-1, 12 KOs) stopped Jorge “El Demonio’’ Cota (30-5, 27 KOs) Sinaloa, Mexico in the fourth. Coming out swinging, Cota came right at Fundora, but the tall fighter mixed it up in what was a fun start. Continuing to exchange, Cota began to bleed from a cut on his right eye as Fundora stood close to him. Fundora ripped Cota on the inside but Cota continued to fight back swinging wildly at the tall fighter. In the fourth, Fundora landed huge punches as Cota continued to stay on his feet but the referee stepped in to stop the fight at 2:35 as Cota and the fans were not happy with the stoppage.
In the opening bout of the FOX Sports PPV, Jesús Ramos, Jr. (16-0, 14 KOs) of Phoenix won a hard fought tough unanimous decision over 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina (22-4, 9 KOs) of Norwalk, California in a 10 round welterweight bout. Exchanging jabs in the first round, Molina kept his distance with Ramos lurking working patiently. Ramos appeared to cut the ring early in the second as Molina circled letting his hands go, later in the round Ramos connected with a solid straight left snapping Molina’s head back. Ramos worked the jab to start the third and pressured, Molina continued to box. In the fourth, Ramos continued to stay on the flashy Molina crouching him attempting to keep him close. Molina clinched as Ramos’s pressure began slowing down the 2008 Olympian.
Ramos began connecting with bug punches. Closing in with the pressure, Ramos worked patiently in the sixth landing solid shots, but Molina fought back. Things got intense in the seventh round as Ramos continued to hold down Molina’s head, out of frustration Molina retaliated by hitting him on the break as the referee immediately deducted a point from Molina. In round eight, Molina fired the jab to keep Ramos off. The tenth and final round was all flash as Ramos and Molina peppered away with the jab.
The judges scored the bout 99-90, 99-90, and 97-92.
Cuba’s Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (27-3-3, 15 KOs) won his third world title in a second weight class scoring a first round knockout over Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (30-5-1, 12 KOs) for the WBA Middleweight Title in the FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes main event. A straight left by Lara dropped LaManna as he was done referee immediately stopped the fight.
Featherweight Eduardo Ramírez (25-2-3, 12 KOs) scored a third-round knockout over Isaac Avelar (17-3, 10 KOs) in winning the vacant WBA interim title. A short right hand by Ramirez send Avelar to the canvas as Avelar was up. Ramirez continued his attack as another short right found its mark staggering Avelar sitting him on the ropes as the referee saved him stopping the fight at 1:16.
Veteran welterweight Adrian “El Tigre” Granados (21-8-2, 15 KO’s) of Chicago was in a battle against New Mexico’s Jose Sanchez (11-1, 4 KO’s) as they went the distance fighting to a draw. Exchanging solid rights in the opening round, Granados and Sanchez did not take a step back to start. Continuing to let their hands go in round two, Granados backed Sanchez, but the New Mexico fighter held his own standing his ground. It was all offense in the third as Sanchez and Granados traded away. In the fourth, Granados began having his way with Sanchez attacking and backing him up, but a body shot by Sanchez stopped Granados momentum.
Halfway through in the fifth, the offense continued from Sanchez and Granados. The pace slowed down later in the fight, but Granados and Sanchez kept fighting on. The eighth and final round sensing the urgency, Granados and Sanchez kept the hands going fighting away to the final bell.
In the end the judges scored the bout 77-75 Granados, 76-76, and 76-76.
Puerto Rican heavyweight Olympian Carlos Negron (23-3, 18 KO’s) worked his way to a decision win over Scott Alexander (16-4-2, 8 KO’s). It was a slow start for the big guys, Negron had a moment in round three as he attacked and backed Alexander to the ropes. Negron boxed and worked off the jab as Alexander stalked and attempted to get inside. The Puerto Rican applied the pressure and let his hands go in the final round as Alexander was limited. The judges scored the bout 79-73, 78-74, and 77-75.
Lightweight prospect Fernando Molina (6-0, 3 KOs) and Prisco Marquez (4-3-1, 1 KO) battled it out going the distance six rounds. It was back and forth fight with neither fighter taking a step back, but Molina was the more superior as Marquez held his own. All three judges scored the bout 60-54.
Featherweight prospect Anthony Garnica (6-0, 3 KO’s) won a four round decision over Jesse Bazzi (1-2). A short right in the opening round dropped Bazzi as he was up quick. Garnica busted up Bazzi as bled profusely from the nose in round two as he continued his attack. It was a dominant performance all three judges scored the bout 40-35.
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla
Comments