Andy Ruiz Jr., the former unified heavyweight champion, marked a triumphant return to the boxing ring with a decisive unanimous decision victory over Chris Arreola at Carson, California's Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night.

Despite the judges' wide scoring—two scoring it 118-109 for Ruiz and the third 117-110—there was considerable early drama as Ruiz, a former champion, had to regroup after enduring an early knockdown. Many anticipated Ruiz (34-2) would secure a stoppage against the 40-year-old Arreola, especially after enlisting the guidance of Eddy Reynoso, Canelo Alvarez's trainer, and implementing significant dietary changes to unveil a transformed physique. However, Arreola's own adjustments leading up to the bout, notably shedding weight to just over 220 pounds, nearly turned the tables on Ruiz in the second round.

Ruiz sought to establish dominance quickly, but Arreola countered with a potent right hand that sent Ruiz to the canvas. Subsequently, Arreola continued to exert pressure on Ruiz with powerful right hands that visibly impacted the former champion, perhaps indicating a degree of ring rust following his nearly 18-month hiatus. However, Ruiz regained his footing in the third round, employing precise boxing skills and strategic positioning to evade Arreola's significant blows.

Throughout the middle and later rounds, Ruiz unleashed relentless combinations on Arreola, although he never seemed to have his opponent in significant jeopardy. Instead, Ruiz amassed points while effectively avoiding Arreola's attempts to land decisive blows, employing a pattern of landing combinations and then swiftly moving out of range.

This performance marks a significant turnaround for Ruiz following his defeat to Anthony Joshua in December 2019, where he struggled with weight issues. By demonstrating a renewed dedication to his training regimen, Ruiz has reaffirmed his status as a formidable contender in the heavyweight division.





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