Premier Boxing Champions has a big fight coming up on Pay-Per-View this Saturday, both literally and figuratively. On May 1 at 9pm ET, former unified heavyweight world champion Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. (33-2-0) will take on Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (38-6-1) live from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA. You can order the fight for $49.99 on Sling, no subscription required! To get you ready for this “all-Mexican boxing extravaganza,” here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s fight.
Andy Ruiz Jr. is training like Rocky
When Andy Ruiz Jr. upset Anthony Joshua with a seventh-round TKO in June of 2019, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming the first boxer of Mexican descent to become a world heavyweight champion. However, by the time of their rematch six months later, Ruiz had ballooned in weight, and Joseph reclaimed his titles by unanimous decision.
“Losing my last fight was devastating. I didn’t do the things that I was supposed to do,” Ruiz recently said of the loss. By Cinco De Mayo of 2020, Ruiz weighed 310 pounds.
That same day, Ruiz announced that he was working with celebrated trained Eddy Reynoso—voted 2019 trainer of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America—to get his career back on track. Ruiz has said his goal is to weigh-in at around 255 and credits Reynoso not just for a change in his physique, but his mindset as well.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been truly 100% dedicated until now,” Ruiz says candidly. “I’m surrounded by great champions who help motivate me and it’s a blessing to be learning from Eddy every single day. Eddy has helped me change my mentality.”
Chris Arreola Will Come Out Swinging
A three-time title contender, Chris Arreola is also looking for redemption in Saturday’s bout. Following a lackluster fight against Maurenzo Smith in 2018, Arreola hired trainer and boxing commentator Joe Goossen to train him. In his 2019 fight against Adam Kownacki, Arreola lost on the judge’s scorecards but threw a heavyweight-record 1,125 punches according to CompuBox. The slugfest featured a combined 2,172 punches thrown, with 667 connecting, both division records.
“Working with Joe is hard work,” Arreola said recently. “Before, I used to do three rounds. The [heavy] bag, three rounds. The speed bag, three rounds. The double-ended bag, three rounds. With Joe it’s five rounds with the rope, five rounds with the sled, 10 rounds with the speed bag, 10 rounds with the double-end bag.”
That conditioning is important now that Arreola is getting older (he turned 40 last month). However, Goossen says that, “some guys are just built for this game and longevity,” and Arreola is looking to other senior fighters for inspiration.
“I take a lot of pride in what I do,” Arreola says. “I’m actually trying to follow in the footsteps of the great George Foreman and The Road Warrior, Glen Johnson. Glen Johnson said, ‘I’m not the best but I’m willing to fight the best.’”
Loaded Undercard
In addition to the main event, the undercard features three other fights:
– Former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, Jr. (28-1-1) squaring up with Abel Ramos (26-4-2) in a 12-round welterweight bout.
– 6’5” super welterweight contender Sebastián “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora (16-0-1) taking on the hard-hitting Jorge “El Demonio’’ Cota (30-4-0) in a 12-round featured fight.
– Rising welterweight star Jesus Ramos Jr. (15-0-0) fighting U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina (22-3-0) in a 10-round bout.
The action gets started at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT on Saturday, May 1 and remember, no Sling subscription is required to order! Use the link below to order the PPV now.
