Andy Ruiz is set for a long-awaited return to the ring on Saturday when he faces Jarrell Miller – but the former unified world champion has already made his next plans clear, calling out a heavyweight rival for a huge rematch.
Former IBF, WBA and WBO champion Ruiz faces controversial figure Miller on the Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov card in Los Angeles this weekend, in what will be Ruiz’s first fight since September 2022.
Ruiz shocked the world when he stopped Joshua at Madison Square Garden in June 2019 to become world champion, but lost the belts in the rematch six months later, after coming in over 15 pounds heavier than their initial bout.
He has since had two decision wins over Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz, and hopes a victory over Miller could move him one step closer to another crack at world honours.
The clash with Joshua wasn’t Ruiz’s first shot at a world title, having came up short against Joseph Parker in New Zealand back in December 2016, losing the bout by a narrow majority decision.
Parker is currently in a great run of form having defeated Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, picking up the interim WBO heavyweight title in the process, and should Ruiz come through Miller this weekend, he wants a rematch against Parker next.
“For me next it’s Jarrell Miller; god willing we get that win and hopefully I’d love to run it back with Joseph Parker. “I’d love to get that rematch. Of course I rate Jarrell Miller. Any fighter inside that ring is dangerous. You can’t underestimate nobody. We’ve got to be prepared. We’ve got to be ready for whatever comes our way. We’ve just got to get that win.
“The main thing is just getting the victory, getting back in action and getting ready to fight those big boys. Me personally I would like to have two fights, against people that are in the top ten or top fifteen. I’ll fight against anyone else after this fight. I just want to fight the top guys man. Joseph Parker is doing amazing things right now. He beat Wilder and he beat Zhang. I’d love to fight him too.”
Ruiz has also lifted the lid on some of the issues that have kept him out of the ring for nearly two years, but insists he is back and prepared to face Miller.
“I had a lot of rollercoasters and a lot of up and downs over the years since my last fight against Luis Ortiz. I had surgery on my shoulder. I had some ‘baby mumma’ drama but guess what? I’m back, I’m ready to go and I’m ready to become and two-time Heavyweight Champion of the World.”
“I think it’s a good fight for me. Especially because I haven’t been in the ring for 18 months and for my shoulder. I’m not saying he’s something light or he’s an easy fight, because all fights are hard. You can’t underestimate nobody. I think this is the perfect fight for my comeback.
“Back in the day he did call me out. We were in Detroit, I just got done winning this fight, he went up the ring and he wanted to fight me. I was like, ‘you know what, let’s do it right now, let’s do it, I’ll put on the gloves and we’ll get it on’. After the years passed we actually became, I don’t want to say super good friends, but we kind of became friends.
“We’re friends outside of the ring but inside the ring it’s business. Jarrell; it’s time man, it’s time buddy. It’s time to get back in the ring. I’ve seen what you did over there in Saudi Arabia, and now I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do man. It’s all business, nothing personal. Let’s get it.”
Saturday’s Crawford vs. Madrimov card is available on DAZN PPV, and also features Isaac Cruz vs. Jose Valnzuela for the WBA super-lightweight title, David Morrell against Radivoje Kalajdzic for the WBA light-heavyweight title, and Jared Anderson against Martin Bakole.
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