ANDY Ruiz Jr will return to the ring on August 3 against Jarrell Miller after almost two years of inactivity. Before the fight was announced, there were questions about whether Ruiz would fight again. While Turki Alalshikh stamped his authority by putting together a conveyor belt of incredible matchups in the heavyweight division, Ruiz was nowhere to be seen.
Apart from the fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, heavyweight fights like Frank Sanchez vs Agit Kabayel, Joseph Parker vs Deontay Wilder, and Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou represented a new era in boxing. One where the big boys always fight each other, either in the main event or as part of a stacked undercard.
With undefeated records on the line, temporary world titles up for grabs, and life-changing purses, there's never been a better time to stay active. His charisma goes hand in hand with his participation in sports, bringing rival cheerleaders together as he sits aloft and watches the fun unfold, like a king in the Roman Colosseum.
However, one can wonder where Ruiz has been since this change in boxing began. It's been more than five years since 'The Destroyer' destroyed true fans when he knocked out Anthony Joshua (see below) to become the first heavyweight champion of all time and history in Mexico. And it's been nearly five years since Ruiz vacated the joint heavyweight world title in a rematch with Joshua in Saudi Arabia.
His upcoming fight with Miller will be Ruiz's first time back in the Middle East following that heartbreaking loss. It's like the ghost of that defeat left Ruiz afraid of a second chance. One that could mean the end of a very successful career. But with the goal of becoming a two-time world champion, Ruiz decided to face his demons.
In a recent interview with Chris Mannix, Ruiz admitted that he has a moral problem. She revealed her love for the party life after beating Joshua. It's not uncommon for elite boxers, especially when they reach their big goal and the gold medal syndrome kicks in, except for the occasional praise that everyone around you usually gets, which can affect the motivation of many.
In addition, standing out in your life outside the ring is even stronger when you have a body like Ruiz's, which has been the talk of the town since his debut in 2009. A casual boxing fan would look down on Ruiz until they look at him in the ring and I appreciate his quick hands, exceptional ability to counter the front foot, and ability to land devastating knockouts.
In 2021, however, Ruiz decided to drop the pounds. He weighed in against Chris Arreola at 256 lbs, around 30 lbs less than Joshua's rematch. However, Ruiz's boxing resistance appeared to be diminished due to the weight cut, and he was knocked out in the second round before bouncing back to win a wide points decision.
The average performance ended up being the confirmation Ruiz needed to stop cutting weight and for his latest fight against Luis Ortiz in September 2022, he came in at 268 and three and a quarter pounds. Ruiz knocked Ortiz down twice, however the victory was narrow, with scorecards of 114-111, 113-112, and 114-111 in the consensus.
Miller, however, is set to be the first opponent to surpass Ruiz by a large margin. The 'Big Baby' tipped the scales at 333 lbs when he fought Daniel Dubois, and it looks like he's going to top the 300 lb mark again. Despite being suspended by Dubois, Miller's work rate was impressive for a man of such size, and it remains to be seen how Ruiz will handle the pressure.
Daniel Dubois defeats Jarrell Miller in their heavyweight bout at the Kingdom Arena on December 23, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Indeed, Ruiz's return is another opportunity to turn his career around. Now 34 years old and turning 35 in September, Ruiz has made history by becoming Mexico's first heavyweight champion. Although, some would argue that he hasn't reached his full potential with the talent he has. Therefore, a strong victory against Miller could be the trigger needed for Ruiz to return to the heavyweight picture.
With Turki around, there's no shortage of lucrative matchups, including a potential rematch with Joseph Parker. However, Ruiz needs to show that he still has the drive to return to the top.
History shows that heavyweights last longer than lightweights and many legends have fought well into their 30s or 40s at the top level. However, there comes a time when ring corrosion and biology catch up.
The writers really like Ruiz to beat Miller. But if that iron is empty in the first division, the boxing world will officially find out if they welcome the prodigal son who was lost but is part of the heavyweight elite. Or a fighter shell. The one with the best days behind him.
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