Luis Ortiz not worried about Andy Ruiz Jr’s speed

By Boxing News - 08/18/2022 - Comments

By Robert Segal: Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz said today that he’s not worried about the hand speed that Andy Ruiz Jr possesses.

Ortiz (33-2, 28 KOs) believes that he’s got the boxing skills needed to counter the former unified heavyweight champion Ruiz (34-2, 22 KOs) and knock him out when they meet on September 4th at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles.

Ruiz vs. Ortiz will be headlining on FOX Sports PPV next month in a WBC heavyweight title eliminator.

The winner of the fight has the possibility of facing Deontay Wilder. Ortiz has an excellent chance of getting the Wilder fight if he beats Ruiz next month.

“Andy’s speed doesn’t bother me in the least. I feel that I have the tools needed in order to counter that speed,” said Luis Ortiz to Fighthype. “On September 4th, it’s the moment of truth, and you’ll see just how I can counter that speed.

Look, this fight is going to end in a knockout regardless because the judges are going to have nothing to do with it. There’s pressure on both sides with Andy and I. Both of us are going to try and go for that KO.

“Nothing has changed. My motivation is the same now as the first day I turned pro. The same intensity and same everything. I’m here just like I was 20+ years ago.

“First of all, that makes me very happy that he said that,”  said Ortiz when being told that Deontay Wilder wants to fight him in a trilogy match if he successfully defeats Andy Ruiz.

“I think that if he said that, it’s true. The trilogy could happen. He’s the only one that didn’t make excuses to fight me. I consider him a friend, and I know I could fight alongside his family. He could fight alongside mine. Then again, inside the ring, they’re enemies. No friends anymore. I’ll be looking forward to that fight if it happens.

“Inside the ring, it’s a totally different animal. You can spar all you want, but inside the ring, it’s you, him, and what you need to do in order to win.

“They can be sparring partners all they want, but inside the ring, no holds barred whatsoever,” said Ortiz.

YouTube video