El Centro native Andy Ruiz with another big win in the ring, pursues new belt

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - El Centro native Andy Ruiz landed just enough big punches on Luis Ortiz to make up for his mistakes and caution in a narrow victory that kept him on the path to a chance to become the heavyweight champion again.

Ruiz knocked down Ortiz three times on the way to a victory by unanimous decision Sunday night.

In the main event, Ruiz grinded out a decision over Ortiz - a two-time world title challenger - by knocking down the 43-year-old twice in the second round and again in the seventh.

You may remember Ruiz pulled off one of the bigger upsets in recent heavyweight history when he took Anthony Joshua’s three championship belts in 2019, only to lose them back to his British opponent six months later.

Ruiz had fought just once since, but he rededicated himself to training with hopes of getting another shot at the belts.