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KPBS Midday Edition

Imperial Valley Celebrates Hometown Hero And Heavyweight Boxing Champ Andy Ruiz Jr.

Heavyweight boxer Andy Ruiz Jr. weighs in at Madison Square Garden, Friday, May 31, 2019, before a title bout Saturday against Anthony Joshua in New York.
Craig Ruttle / AP
Heavyweight boxer Andy Ruiz Jr. weighs in at Madison Square Garden, Friday, May 31, 2019, before a title bout Saturday against Anthony Joshua in New York.
A parade is planned through the city of Imperial on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. at Fourth Street and Imperial Avenue and will end at Imperial High School where a rally will be held.

The Imperial Valley is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the victory of hometown hero Andy Ruiz, Jr. as the new heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

A parade and rally is planned through the city of Imperial on Saturday. The parade begins at 8 a.m. at Fourth Street and Imperial Avenue and will end at Imperial High School where a rally will be held. Andy Ruiz, Jr. is expected to speak at the rally.

Ruiz’s upset victory over British boxer Anthony Joshua earlier this month makes him the first Mexican-American heavyweight champ. His victory prompted a wave of pride in Imperial County and across the border.

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Freddy Terrazas, a former boxer and expert on the Imperial Valley boxing scene, described what the win means to the community on KPBS Midday Edition.