ANDY RUIZ JR secured victory over Luis Ortiz thanks to his three knockdowns – as the close scorecards are revealed.
Ortiz was dropped twice in round two and then again in the seventh but boxed on to hear the final bell.
Ruiz actually took his foot off the gas in the rounds after flooring the Cuban veteran in Los Angeles.
Following the 12 completed rounds, Zachary Young and Eddie Hernandez Sr’s scorecards read 111-114 twice in favour of Ruiz.
And Fernando Villarreal had it 112-113 to the Mexican-American, 32, meaning the verdict was unanimous.
But in actual fact, had Ortiz, 43, not had three points docked for being dropped, he would have won on Villarreal’s card.
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The official had Ortiz winning seven of the 12 rounds, while Young and Hernandez had it even a six apiece.
But the three additional points scored by Ruiz for his knockdowns meant he ran out a winner.
Ortiz ended the fight with a closed eye following a brutal right hand, but now wants a second fight after refusing to retire.
He said: “I want a rematch. I was keeping my hands up but the eyes wasn’t a problem.
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“After this do you think I’m done? What do the people want?”
Ruiz has not got back to world title contention since beating Anthony Joshua, 32, in June 2019 but losing the rematch six months later.
Now, he wants to get back to being a busy boxer again and vowed to reign once more.
Ruiz roared: “I do not want to be waiting so long, I want to fight at least three or four times a year.
“I’m ready, I’m hungry man. I want to be champion again, I want to bring that belt back to Mexico.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
