Andy Ruiz Jr. was on top of the world not long ago. Now he’s looking at a comeback attempt in late summer.
The American heavyweight said on Inside PBC Boxing that he plans to return to the ring in August. By that time, he will have been out of competition for nearly eight months. Enough time, one figures, for the sting to have subsided from his lopsided points loss to Anthony Joshua in December.
Ruiz shocked the world by stopping Joshua in their first fight, last June, but showed up pitifully out of shape for the rematch.
Now it’s be back to being serious, says Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs). His next opponent evidently hasn’t been selected but Ruiz floated a few names.
“[My handlers] mentioned [Luis] Ortiz [as possible opponents], but I think I want to have a fight before I fight Ortiz,” he said. “If not, if Tyson Fury is looking for somebody …. I just want to get a fight and then get to the big fight.”
According to The Athletic, Ruiz’s next fight will likely be against either countryman Chris Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs) or Adam Kownacki (20-0, 15 KOs), a popular Brooklyn-based Polish heavyweight who takes on Robert Helenius this Saturday at Barclays Center. Kownacki would pose a far greater challenge to Ruiz than Arreola, a veteran whose last bout was a wide points loss to Kownacki.
Also up in the air is who will train Ruiz. He canned Manny Robles in January. There have been rumors that Ruiz may try to work with Teddy Atlas, but nothing has been confirmed.
One thing seems certain: Ruiz will come in less than his official weight of 283½ for the rematch with Joshua. He admitted he was overweight for that fight, which hampered his ability to cut off the ring and throw combinations. He weighed 268 for the first fight.
“I think 250 would be a perfect weight for me,” he said. “I will be light, I will be fast with my hands.”
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