ANDY RUIZ and JARRELL MILLER may have to fight once again after they served up a majority draw in Los Angeles tonight.
The three judges’ scorecards were returned 116-112 (for Miller) and the other two 114-114 leaving neither fighter happy with the outcome.
The second heavyweight bout on the card came hot on the heels of Martin Bakole’s thumping of Jared Anderson. Ruiz vs. Miller, however, went the distance in a gruelling affair where the action was fought in close quarters throughout.
In the first half of the fight we witnessed examples of the Ruiz hand speed which has served him well in his career but in the second half his inactivity – which has seen him fight just twice since losing to Anthony Joshua in their 2019 rematch – looked to have caught up with him. Miller, meanwhile, will see this as a chance missed. A stronger start to the fight, and more use of the jab, could have paved the way to score the one round needed in his favour to tip the fight his way.
Reflecting on the fight, Ruiz said: “I think it was close. I’d love to do it again here at the BMO Stadium,” which was greeted by boos from the crowd at the MLS venue.
The former unified champion gave himself a pat on the back believing he did well despite his two year absence from the ring.
Ruiz then revealed details of an injury to his right hand which he suffered in the fifth round.
“He keeps coming forward and forward but like I said let’s run it again.”
A dejected Miller said, “I know I did enough [to win]. It’s called effective aggression. I threw cleaner punches. I had him backing up the whole fight. I let my hands go as much as I could.”
