LUIS ORTIZ was left with a gruesomely swollen left eye following an explosive right hand from Andy Ruiz Jr.
The Cuban veteran was floored THREE times in defeat on points to Ruiz in Los Angeles.
But perhaps the most damage was done with a single right hand in round 11.
Replays revealed the shot bounce off Ortiz’s face and almost instantly give him with a closed eye.
The former world title challenger bravely boxed to the finish and called for a second fight with Ruiz, 32, as he refused to retire.
Ortiz, 43, 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 dropped Ortiz twice in round two and then once more in the seventh on the way to a unanimous points win.
He said: “It was difficult, man.
“But the ability that I have, me counter punching and waiting for him to load up and connecting and dropping him.
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“It was a blessing, man and I just want to thank God so much.”
Ruiz’s win came in a WBC title eliminator with Deontay Wilder, 36, fighting in a similar bout against Robert Helenius, 38, on October 15.
It means if Wilder wins, he is in line to fight the Mexican-American for the right to challenge for the belt held by Tyson Fury, 34.
Ruiz said: “God willing he wins against Robert in October.
“Me and him are in the same organisation, I want to thank Al Haymon, he can make this fight happen and let’s do it, let’s get it on.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
