BoxRec

The undercard and site for the welterweight fight between former two-division titlist Danny Garcia and Adrian Granados on April 20 was squared away on Thursday.

The Premier Boxing Champions card (Fox/Fox Deportes, 8 p.m. ET) will take place at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, and will include a 10-round heavyweight co-feature between Andy Ruiz, who is newly signed to PBC, and Alexander Dimitrenko, and a vacant interim junior featherweight title bout between Brandon Figueroa and Yonfrez Parejo in the opening bout.

Ruiz (31-1, 20 KOs), 29, fighting out of Imperial, California, suffered his lone defeat by majority decision in New Zealand to Joseph Parker for a vacant world title in December 2016. He has only fought twice since before being released by longtime promoter Top Rank and signing with PBC.

The 6-foot-2 Ruiz will take on the 6-7 Dimitrenko (41-4, 26 KOs), 36, a Russia native fighting out of Germany, who has vast experience. Dimitrenko suffered a third-round knockout loss to Parker in 2016 and is coming off a ninth-round knockout loss to Bryant Jennings in August.

Dimitrenko is a good opponent for the relatively inactive Ruiz. Jr.

I hope Andy manages to drop a bit of weight and enters the ring weighing in the region of 245lbs.

I'm expecting a stoppage victory for the American, but I believe it'll be a competitive fight, while it lasts.

I reckon Ruiz by decision. I'm just pleased to see him fighting anyone, l'm certainly not going to quibble about Dimitrenko as an opponent. He's a respectable keep busy opponent for anyone (Andy Ruiz Jnr ... keep busy )

"Dough-Boy" by decision. Dimi past his prime, now just a stepping stone for other fringe contenders. Let's face it, Ruiz will just be another "wanna-be" heavyweight when the likes of Wilder, Joshua, and Fury stand in his way.

Dimitrenko went through that fight looking terrified and apprehensive about being hit by Jennings.

He has skills but apparently lacks the mental toughness to excel.

Expect Ruiz to take him out unless Dimitrenko goes into strict survival mode from the opening bell.

Fairly easy comeback fight for Ruiz. Just what he needs right now. Dimitrenko is past it and never was great. Ruiz not going anywhere.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑08 Mar 2019, 11:46 Dimitrenko went through that fight looking terrified and apprehensive about being hit by Jennings.

He has skills but apparently lacks the mental toughness to excel.

Expect Ruiz to take him out unless Dimitrenko goes into strict survival mode from the opening bell.

He always looks terrified to me. Although that might be because he seems to have the face of a chubby 8-year-old boy. Quite unsettling when it's attached to a giant 6'7" 260lb body.

A win here will basically keep Ruiz in the same position he's in now. A fringe contender. I suspect he won't exactly light up the world with his performance either. He'll win though.

the_doctor wrote: ↑08 Mar 2019, 11:53

SenorPipino wrote: ↑08 Mar 2019, 11:46 Dimitrenko went through that fight looking terrified and apprehensive about being hit by Jennings.

He has skills but apparently lacks the mental toughness to excel.

Expect Ruiz to take him out unless Dimitrenko goes into strict survival mode from the opening bell.

He always looks terrified to me. Although that might be because he seems to have the face of a chubby 8-year-old boy. Quite unsettling when it's attached to a giant 6'7" 260lb body.

It wasn't so much his expression.

It was Dimitrenko's body language. He galloped around the ring and pulled back from punches before they were launched.

He seemed frightened of contact.

And Jennings isn't exactly the world's most dangerous heavyweight.

Dimi just fought like a guy who wished he was anything except a boxer.

A heavier than usual Andy Ruiz Jr. forces the late stoppage over Alexander Dimitrenko.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑02 Apr 2019, 11:43 A heavier than usual Andy Ruiz Jr. forces the late stoppage over Alexander Dimitrenko.

How much dya reckon he’ll weigh?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 11:12 How much dya reckon he’ll weigh?

Too much, per usual. I don't think much of Ruiz.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 11:12 How much dya reckon he’ll weigh?

At least 265lbs, but closer to 270lbs. He looked heavy in the training montages I've recently seen. However, I could be wrong.

Maybe he's been losing weight since those videos were shot or perhaps the camera angle made him appear more bloated than he really is.

Athletically-speaking, Andy Ruiz Jr. still looks good, but he just seems heavier than usual to me. His face is fatter than usual.

oogiebe wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 11:23 Too much, per usual. I don't think much of Ruiz.

Didn’t he weigh around 255 against Parker but still looked flabby as anything

He has good speed.

Many on here have said he could make CW but obviously prefers not too.. his ideal weight might be 240 maybe even less.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 11:30 At least 265lbs, but closer to 270lbs. He looked heavy in the training montages I've recently seen. However, I could be wrong.

Maybe he's been losing weight since those videos were shot or perhaps the camera angle made him appear more bloated than he really is.

Athletically-speaking, Andy Ruiz Jr. still looks good, but he just looks heavier than usual to me. His face is fatter than usual.

Can you post them here?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 11:32 Can you post them here?

I'll find a few more and post them shortly.

I read somewhere he's looking to come in around 248 which would be lowest in three years.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 11:32

I'll find a few more and post them shortly.

Cheers mate

I hope this is the beginning of a new serious about his career Andy Ruiz and an end to the inactivity that has blighted his progress. He is one of those fighters whose out-of-shape appearance is deceptive. He is a pretty good fighter and a welcome addition to the heavyweight scene.

candyslim wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 13:47 I hope this is the beginning of a new serious about his career Andy Ruiz and an end to the inactivity that has blighted his progress. He is one of those fighters whose out-of-shape appearance is deceptive. He is a pretty good fighter and a welcome addition to the heavyweight scene.

I hope so too.. He could be a very very good mix in the HW division.

He's with PBC so, options are very well open.

Andy Ruiz Jr. claimed this week that he's down from 270lbs to 254lbs, which is roughly the same that he weighed for the Joseph Parker bout. He looks heavier though.

Interesting exercise Ruiz is doing throwing the medicine ball against the wall. Big name pro boxers are training with all kinds of innovative methods now. I used to do pushups and situps ha ha. Sledge hammer too, in lieu of the wood chopping that Jack Dempsey favored.

Ruiz has fought only twice in almost 2 1/2 years and neither were impressive opponents.

Dimitrenko is not good.

diddy wrote: ↑15 Apr 2019, 13:31 Dimitrenko is not good.

No. He's a very apprehensive fighter.

Ruiz doesn' t carry dynamite, but Dimitrenko will approach him like he's Foreman.