Former unified world heavyweight champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. and hard-hitting top contender Luis “King Kong” Ortiz were close at hand for a presser ahead of their WBC eliminatory bout this Sunday, from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Ruiz, the first Mexican heavyweight world champion, looks to move one step closer to a second title reign, while Ortiz hopes to get back into position to become Cuba’s first pro heavyweight world champion. Andy declared:
“I feel good and extremely motivated. The first time I saw Ortiz fight live, my dad told me I was going to fight him someday. Now here we are!
“At the end of the day, we both have the same dream. He wants to make history, but I’m going to have my hand raised up high and I’ll be the one who comes out victorious.
“I’m trying to make a big statement. Not just for the fans, but for myself. Losing all those titles that I won broke my heart. This is another chance for me to become champion and I don’t want to lose it. I want to take full advantage of it and do my best.
“His plan is to try to knock me out but we’ve trained really hard. I’m ready for anything he brings to the ring. Everyone wants a knockout, but if you look for the knockout, you make mistakes and pay the price. We will be patient.
“This is the only thing I know how to do. I’ve boxed since I was six-years-old. I never had another job, so I had to work hard in boxing to follow my dreams.
“I focus more on boxing now, because in my last fight I was focused on how I looked. I want to be the part, not look the part. I have trained so hard for this moment.
“Beating Luis Ortiz will help me become a world champion again. That’s the reason I’m still fighting. I want to become a two-time world champion.
“All the hard work and dedication, the blood sweat and tears, it’s time for it all to pay off. It’s time for victory.”
Luis Ortiz says there’s no such thing as a free lunch so it’s going to be KO slam bam:
“My goal is to destroy my opponent!
“Either he knocks me out or I knock him out. A knockout in boxing is the best. I can assure you that this is going to be an exciting fight. One of us is going down, and I’m making sure it’s Andy.
“The only thing I know how to do is box. Ever since I was a kid in Cuba and had to fight for my lunch money. I’m ready for this because it`s all I know.
“This is a fight everyone wants to see. It’s going to be two warriors in the ring and now it’s finally time to fight!
“Every fight is important, but this is especially important because the winner will hopefully fight to become heavyweight champion of the world. It doesn’t get any bigger than that.
“I don’t pay attention to the odds. Boxing is such a great sport, because you come in with an idea of what you’re going to do, and it changes right away when you’re in the ring.
“I come from a school of boxing that’s about adapting to what my opponent does. I don’t take anything for granted in the ring. But no matter what he does, I’m going in there to look for the knockout, because that’s the ultimate goal.
“I’m facing a popular Mexican fighter, but things can turn around in a single second. I love the Mexican fans and I’m looking to get them on my side with a big, big victory.”
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