Andy Ruiz Jr is reportedly a promotional free agent after his father confirmed a split with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions.
As reported by ESPN shortly after he decided not to proceed with his purse bid to fight Filip Hrgovic, Ruiz was released from his agreement.
The news that the former heavyweight champion is no longer a PBC fighter comes not long after Deontay Wilder – the man Ruiz has been mandated to fight next – revealed that, whilst his relationship with the promotional company was on good terms, he was free to make a deal with anyone.
Both departures – providing more information to the contrary isn’t provided – signal a big hit to PBC’s heavyweight stable, with only the likes of Frank Sanchez, Luis Ortiz, Adam Kownacki and Robert Helenius remaining.
Wilder and Ruiz were ordered to fight by the WBC in November last year, with the winner set to be first in line for a shot at Tyson Fury’s world title. At the time, both men were under the same banner and negotiations should have, in theory, been simple enough.
No fight has been announced, though, and fans will begin to wonder if PBC played a part in the delay and, ultimately, both fighters now looking elsewhere.
It’s understood that the fight is still a target for both camps, and promoter Eddie Hearn has recently voiced an interest in staging the fight in the Middle East.
Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) won the unified titles from Anthony Joshua in a shock 2019 stoppage victory to become the first heavyweight champion from Mexico. His reign was short-lived, however, with ‘AJ’ beating him over the 12 round distance later that year in an immediate rematch.
Since then, ‘The Destroyer’ has face Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz, winning both bouts by decision.