The party is over. The apology tour has begun.
Andy Ruiz Jr. issued an apology in an Instagram post Thursday night for his performance – or lack of it – in a dismal loss to Anthony Joshua on Dec. 7 in Saudi Arabia.
“I’ve had time to reflect since my fight on Saturday,’’ Ruiz said. “Congrats to Anthony. He did what he needed to do. Now it’s time for me to do what I need to do. I’ll be back stronger. I WILL be a champion once again. I appreciate all the love and support from my true fans.
“I appreciate the haters as well and can’t wait to prove the haters wrong once again. Back to the gym. Let’s start this journey to the belts.”
Ruiz has become a convenient punch line since his one-sided scorecard loss to Joshua in a defense of the titles he took on June 1 in what was then compared to Buster Douglas’ upset of Mike Tyson in 1990. Turns out, the Douglas parallel might have been more accurate in the rematch than it was in the June fight.
Post-Tyson, Douglas partied more than he trained. He had pizza delivered to a sauna before a weigh-in for his subsequent fight against Evander Holyfield. Douglas had no chance then, losing by a third-round stoppage to Holyfield in the first defense of his title.
Ruiz had no chance Saturday. He partied like Douglas and paid for it over 12 rounds against a cautious and clever Joshua. Ruiz was about 15 pounds heavier than he was in June.
The question is whether his career will go the way Douglas did. Douglas never won another title. He never even got a shot at one. Post-Holyfield, he went 8-1 and retired quietly.