Andy Ruiz Jr. may well have been a world champion before today – but he is confident that we have yet to see the best of him.
The former unified heavyweight champion, who sensationally dethroned Britain’s Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden in New York back in June 2019 before being outboxed later in the year as ‘AJ’ reclaimed his WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO titles, returns to the ring later this year with a renewed vigour.
Ruiz is now training with Alfredo Osuna after he parted ways with Eddy Reynoso and it will be their first fight together on September 4 when Ruiz meets Luis Ortiz at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Speaking to FightHype, the former member of the ‘Canelo’ team said :
“I didn’t want to pick an easy opponent and I didn’t want to cherry-pick anyone.”
“I know Luis Ortiz is hard-hitting and he’s strong. He’s not someone you can look past but we’re ready.”
Ruiz has boxed just once since losing in his aforementioned rematch at the hands of 2012 Olympic gold medallist Joshua, who takes on Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch on August 20 in Saudi Arabia to attempt to become a three-time world champion, when he outpointed Chris Arreola over 12 rounds back in May 2021.
That performance, however, wasn’t vintage Ruiz, according to the man himself, and he said he was unhappy with it.
“You’ll hopefully see the best version of me and that’s why I’ve picked a good opponent.”
“I’m trying to do better than my last fight because I wasn’t really impressed with my last fight and in this fight, we’re going to get it on.”
“I think I’ve just got to be myself and let my hands go while being careful of that overhand left that he’s got. It’s about making sure that I’m cautious and smart.”
The California-based Mexican, who shocked the world with his win over Joshua as he stopped him inside seven rounds, is eager to make his mark in this outing against the Cuban Ortiz –– whose last fight was a sixth-round stoppage of former Joshua opponent Charles Martin in January –– and prove that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the sport’s premier division once more.
“Styles make fights and for me, this could be one of the hardest fights of my career because it’s my first time fighting a lefty and there are a lot of things that we’ve had to adjust.”
“But I’m here to take risks and prove to myself and the people that I’m here to stay.”