Andy Ruiz vs. Chris Arreola fight results: 'The Destroyer' returns to action with decision victory

Ruiz survived an early knockdown to earn the nod on the judges' scorecards in Carson, California

In his first bout in 17 months since losing the unified heavyweight championship, a slimmed down Andy Ruiz Jr. walked through the fire of an early knockdown to widely outpoint veteran Chris Arreola in the main event of Saturday's Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view card. 

Ruiz (34-2, 22 KOs) relied on his speed, activity and sharper combinations to outwork Arreola (38-7-1, 33 KOs) in his first camp under head trainer (and Canelo Alvarez architect) Eddy Reynoso in a unanimous decision (117-110, 118-109, 118-109) at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. CBS Sports also scored the bout 118-109 for Ruiz.

Following his 2019 upset knockout of Anthony Joshua to claim three of four recognized heavyweight titles, Ruiz ballooned in weight later that year and lost a lifeless decision. After entering this training camp at 310 pounds, the 31-year-old looked trim after weighing in at 258 and never stopped being the aggressor over 12 rounds. 

"Chiris Arreola is a veteran and a hard puncher. We did what we had to do and we won the victory but remember that I was the lowest of the lowest and had to come back," Ruiz said. "We did what we had to do and thanks to God we got this victory. On to the next."

The 40-year-old Arreola, who challenged unsuccessfully for titles on four occasions, created some incredible drama as an overwhelming underdog in Round 2 when a short right hand dropped Ruiz. Arreola went on to hurt Ruiz a second time later in the round and once more in Round 3 as the unpredictability of heavyweight boxing was on full display. 

"He got me with a good, clean right hand," Ruiz said. "I dropped my hand a little bit. I was too overconfident and hats off to Chris Arreola, he got me with a good one. But we kept going and we got the victory."

To Ruiz's credit, he fought well while hurt and remained dangerous. Arreola, who came in at the lightest weight of his career at 228 pounds in his first camp with trainer Joe Goossen, also remained patient enough not to get reckless and over pursue by going for the knockout. 

The problem, however, for Arreola moving forward was that he didn't throw enough punches over the second half of the fight. Despite remaining competitive, he left the door open for Ruiz to target the body and bank round after round due to activity and intelligent boxing. 

Can't get enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news.

Arreola, who fought through an injury to his left shoulder in the second half of the fight, didn't take kindly to the judges' scoring which, while accurate from a round-by-round standpoint, didn't tell the full story of the fight. 

"I respect the judges and I always say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder," Arreola said. "Did he win? Fine. But to not give me anymore rounds, I have to be like Dr. Dre and say, 'All you can suck my motherf---ing d---.'

"In all honesty, we can run this back. Look at me, look at my face. I'm still good."

Ruiz sat down on his punches over the final third of the fight and appeared to rock Arreola with a steady stream of three-punch combinations. 

In all, Ruiz outlanded his opponent by a margin of 161 to 109, according to CompuBox, and connected on 45% of his power shots overall. 

"I felt a little rust and I know other fighters can relate to that," Ruiz said. "We did what we had to do and we got the victory which was to counter punch and work the body to slow him down a little bit. If he wants to run it back, we can run it back. We can have Chris Arreola-Andy Ruiz rematch and run this back here if the promoter wants."

Elsewhere on the card, Sebastian Fundora outgunned Jorge Cota for a fourth-round TKO. The 6-foot-7 super welterweight endured an all-out war from the opening bell as both men landed heavy shots from close range. But after Fundora seemed to close the distance and take Cota out of the fight, Cota answered back with a hook of his own only for the referee to step in and stop the fight. The win marks Fundora's fourth straight and second consecutive stoppage.

CBS Sports was with you throughout the entire way on Saturday, so be sure to follow along with the live results and highlights below. 

Fight card, results

• Andy Ruiz Jr. def. Chris Arreola via unanimous decision (117-110, 118-109, 118-109)
• Abel Ramos def. Omar Figueroa via sixth-round TKO (corner stoppage)
• Sebastian Fundora def. Jorge Cota via fourth-round TKO
• Jesus Ramos Jr. def. Javier Molina via unanimous decision (97-92, 99-90, 99-90)

Ruiz vs. Arreola scorecard, live coverage

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Total
Ruiz	10	8	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	118
Arreola	9	10	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	109

[May 2, 2021 at 12:40 am ET · Brian Campbell]

"Chris Arreola is a veteran and a hard puncher. We did what we had to do and we won the victory but remember that I was the lowest of the lowest and had to come back. We did what we had to do and thanks to God we got this victory. On to the next." -- Andy Ruiz Jr.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:35 am ET · Brian Campbell]

SCORECARDS: 117-110, 118-109, 118-109 for Andy Ruiz Jr.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:32 am ET · Brian Campbell]

I've got it 118-109 for Ruiz.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:32 am ET · Brian Campbell]

Fun fight but Ruiz righted the ship of the early knockdown and looked sharp over the final two thirds. Great piece of boxing in Ruiz's first fight with Eddy Reynoso.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:31 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R12: Ruiz calls him forward in the final seconds and lands bombs before the bell. 10-9, Ruiz.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:31 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R12: Two-punch combo from Ruiz ends with a big left hook. Another left hook from Ruiz and a lead right hand. And another combo. Arreola is eating it all. Short right hand scores for Chris.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:30 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R12: Big combo again. Ruiz is so quick and crisp. Slow jabs from Arreola but it's not doing much damage. Right hand to the ear from Ruiz.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:29 am ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 12: Ruiz lands a big left hook early. Short right hand hits big. Another big combo from Ruiz. He is going for the finish.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:28 am ET · Brian Campbell]

Arreola tells referee Jack Reiss is shoulder is screwed up but that he can fight through it between rounds.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:27 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R11: Big combo from Ruiz late. 10-9, Ruiz.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:27 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R11: They trade jabs again. Ruiz is ducking right hands nicely as Arreola starts to go for it. Nice two-punch combo from Ruiz.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:26 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R11: Good exchanges from both in the final minute. Arreola is picking up his pace even if it appears to be not enough against Ruiz's bigger shots this round.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:26 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R11: Arreola's shoulder is giving him trouble again but he's fighting through it. Stiff jab from Arreola and a lead right hand. Looping right hand from Ruiz answers flush.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:25 am ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 11: Quick combo from Ruiz ends with a left uppercut. Arreola jabs hard to the body. Ruiz comes back with a big left hook that wobbles Arreola.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:25 am ET · Brian Campbell]

The advice might remind fans of how Canelo Alvarez wore down Callum Smith last year by doing the same. Alvarez is also trained by Reynoso.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:24 am ET · Brian Campbell]

Ruiz's trainer Eddy Reynoso tells him to target Arreola's sore left shoulder with hooks between rounds.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:23 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R10: They trade stiff jabs. Give Ruiz another round as he banks a right to the body late, 10-9.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:23 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R10: Accidental head butt brings a quick breather for both fighters. Nice jabs from Arreola to pick up a bit. Ruiz is counter jabbing nicely to the body.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:22 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R10: Ruiz goes hard twice to the body with the right hand. They trade punches in close but Arreola's doesn't have a ton on his shots anymore.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:21 am ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 10: Three-punch combo from Ruiz again. He is crisp and quick. Ruiz is loading up on his shots now. Nice two-punch combo with big hooks.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:20 am ET · Brian Campbell]

Arreola can't outbox Ruiz and he also can't punch on even terms. He needs to overwhelm Ruiz with reckless pressure and risk a knockout or the final three rounds will look exactly like the last three.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:19 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R9: Arreola with a short right hand late. Ruiz flurries nicely to cement another round, 10-9.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:19 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R9: Arreola jabs twice to the body from the clinch. Ruiz answers with a three-punch combo again.

[May 2, 2021 at 12:18 am ET · Brian Campbell]

R9: Beautiful three-punch combo from Ruiz. He is bringing down Arreola's guard by going to the body and finishing with that left hook upstairs.