Andy Ruiz Jr vs Luis Ortiz Boxing Tips, Odds, Stats And Fight Preview

Andy Ruiz Jr will hope a convincing victory over veteran boxer Luis Ortiz will catapult him back into contention for heavyweight world titles soon – and online boxing betting sites expect the former world champion to cruise through this encounter.

Ruiz Jr, 32, should arguably not be fighting Ortiz. His opponent is 43 years old, has fought just once since 2020, and has never won  world heavyweight crown.

Ortiz is in the final months of his career and gets one last big payday against Ruiz Jr here. The question is why Ruiz Jr even agreed to this fight in the first place.

The answer is that he needs wins under his belt before he can realistically challenge again for serious titles. With Oleksandr Usyk hoovering up the heavyweight belts and Tyson Fury his likely next opponent, the other big dogs in this division are jostling to arrange fights.

Ruiz Jr is the sixth-ranked heavyweight in the world. Ortiz is the seven. So, win this and Ruiz Jr could get a stab at fighting Britain’s Dillian Whyte, or even Joseph Parker of New Zealand.

And sports betting sites expect Ruiz Jr to have too much for Ortiz the Sunday. Here, we look at the latest boing betting activity heading into the contest…

The Andy Ruiz Jr vs Luis Ortiz betting odds suggest the American will claim victory Sunday

Ruiz Jr vs Ortiz odds

As soon as this fight was announced, mobile sports betting sites placed Ruiz Jr as the clear favorite to win. In fact, his odds have fallen further to -350 as punters grow in confidence that he will take down Ortiz.

Ruiz Jr bounced back from his December 2019 heavyweight title defeat to Anthony Joshua by taking more than a year out, before edging Chris Arreola over 12 rounds in May last year.

Now he’s looking to get back among the challengers for the world heavyweight title.

Ortiz, by comparison, hasn’t lost in two fights, since his seventh-round stoppage by Wilder in their second WBC heavyweight title contest. But at 43 he’s not the fighter he once was, and sportsbooks have him priced out at +300 to get the job done here.

Ruiz Jr vs Ortiz stats

Statistically Ortiz has the better on Ruiz Jr in terms of stature and reach. Back in his price Ortiz was a fearsome opponent, but physically his 43-year-old frame may struggle against the Ruiz Jr, who is 11 years his junior.

Indeed, the longer this fight goes on the more it’s likely to favor Ruiz Jr. We know the American packs a punch (just ask Anthony Joshua!) but he isn’t the most stylish of boxers. His defeat to Joseph Parker in 2016 exposed Ruiz Jr’s limitations, even at that young age.

Ruiz Jr should be winning this fight, but punters will look at Ortiz’s stats and reputation – and not his age – and wonder if he has once last big performance in him. And, indeed, so will the bookmakers.

Ruiz Jr vs Ortiz betting tips

Sportsbooks sometimes don’t make it easy for bettors to back the favorite because the odds are too short. But the Ruiz Jr odds are well set here. In fact, reaping $35 profit from a $100 bet is good going for a fighter who has the talent and youth on his side.

Ortiz was a great fighter but Ruiz Jr will surely be too much for him in California on Sunday. Yes, it’s likely this fight will go the distance as both men tire in the later rounds. But for Ortiz to nail a points victory over Ruiz Jr would be a big shock.

“A lot of people think Luis Ortiz is going to beat me, but I’m not going to argue with them,” Ruiz Jr said recently.

“I just want the opportunity to get that belt. The WBC belt that’s the one I’m chasing for. If it’s Wilder, Usyk, or Joshua again, whatever it takes. I just want that belt.”

Andy Ruiz Jr vs Luis Ortiz prop bets

As we’ve already stated, there is good value in backing Ruiz Jr at -350 to win this fight. Of course, a successful wager on Ortiz would generate more profit – but will the 43-year-old really manage to stay the course in California? Probably not.

And so it’s also worth examining the prop bets if you want to add finer detail to your Ruiz Jr support. The big wager here is on whether the fight goes the distance. Some sportsbooks are offering -196 on the contest being stopped before the end of the 12th round.

Now, that is a very short price considering these sluggers are highly experienced in grinding out points victories. Meanwhile, a price of +152 on the fight going to the judges’ scorecards is perhaps the best boxing wager of the entire weekend.

Were this fight to be stopped early then Ruiz Jr is -110 to win via KO. His most likely round of stoppage is in the eight or ninth, at +1300. That seems unlikely. Instead, points are perhaps where the smart money lies.

Speaking ahead of the contest, Ortiz said: “As of right now, we’re preparing for the best Andy Ruiz. We know that he’s not just any fighter. He’s a former world champion and that doesn’t happen by luck. I’m ready for him and may the best man win.”