Top heavyweight contender Luis “King Kong” Ortiz faces former unified champion Andy Ruiz Jr. on September 4. The heavyweight matchup highlights a strong Labor Day Weekend card. In fact, the matchup is the main event bout of a FOX Sports Pay-Per-View from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The fight has been sanctioned as a WBC heavyweight eliminator. Both boxers are coming off tough bouts. So far, gambling action has been heavy on Andy Ruiz. But the Boxing odds could quickly change with Luis Ortiz drawing interest based on his attractive price.
WBC Heavyweight Eliminator Luis Ortiz vs. Andy Ruiz Jr.
| Date: | Saturday, September 4, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Location: | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California |
| TV Coverage: | FOX PPV |
Luis Ortiz vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. SGB Boxing Odds:
| Boxer | Odds |
|---|---|
| Andy Ruiz | -360 |
| Luis Ortiz | +250 |
Luis Ortiz vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. SBG Odds Overview
At the onset, Andy Ruiz opened as a -360 favorite. By contrast, Luis Ortiz opened as a +250 underdog. Plenty of bargain hunters and sharps like the price on Ortiz. At the same time, casual gamblers are open to making the big sports betting lay on Ruiz.
Ruiz (34-2, 22 KOs) will look to rebound once again when he takes on Ortiz (33-2, 28 KOs). Specifically, it will mark just the second fight since December 2019 for the former heavyweight champion of the world.
Previously, this year, Ortiz had to overcome two knockdowns to score a dramatic knockout of former world champion Charles Martin. Meanwhile, Ruiz had to recover from a knockdown to win a twelve-round unanimous decision over Chris Arreola last year.
Ortiz Strikes Pose as Power Dog
Although Luis Ortiz opened as a prohibitive underdog, he is not acting or talking like it. In fact, Ortiz is looking to put Ruiz down for the count. He boasted that he intended to score the knockout against Ruiz. He guaranteed that the Boxing odds bout wouldn’t go to the judges.
Ruiz is the Loveable Pudgy Ex-Champ With Casual Appeal
Of course, Andy Ruiz Jr. has never been confused with having the perfect bodybuilding physique. That was part of what made him a beloved figure with fight fans and gamblers. Indeed, throughout his 13-year career, Ruiz’s weight has always caused serious discussion. Ruiz weighed as much as 297 pounds in his pro debut and 256 pounds in his last fight in May.
When he dropped Anthony Joshua on short notice in 2019, he weighed 268 pounds. However, he celebrated the victory too much and ballooned to 283 pounds within six months. Ruiz admitted that his lack of conditioning was why he lost to Joshua in the rematch. Andy will employ the services of this third head trainer in as many fights. Ruiz split from coach Manny Robles after the second Joshua fight. Subsequently, he linked up with Eddy Reynoso for his May 2021 unanimous decision win against Chris Arreola.
But Ruiz has since split from the reigning trainer of the year. Instead, he joined forces with Mexican coach Alfredo Osuna. Ruiz insisted that his goal wasn’t to become a Greek God as he prepared for Saturday’s bout. Ruiz just wants to be prepared to box and win.
Luis Ortiz vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. SBG Free Pick
Accordingly, the Andy Ruiz Jr. physical condition factor is always a concern. Thus, Luis Ortiz is an attractive and potentially dangerous underdog.
Luis Ortiz vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. SBG Best Bet: Luis Ortiz.