Andy Ruiz Jr. experienced a life-altering moment on June 1, 2019, when he achieved the unthinkable by knocking out Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden, thereby becoming boxing's unified heavyweight champion. This victory marked the pinnacle of Ruiz's career, fulfilling a lifelong dream and securing his financial future.
However, the aftermath of that triumph was not as rosy as it seemed. Ruiz's performance in the rematch against Joshua was subpar, leading to a loss of his titles just six months later. Reflecting on this period, Ruiz admitted in a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show that he lacked the discipline necessary to maintain his championship status. "Leading up to the rematch, there were things where I should've just been more disciplined. I should've taken care of myself a little bit more," he stated.
Ruiz's underwhelming performance in the rematch not only tarnished his legacy but also deprived him of further lucrative opportunities in the sport. A second victory over Joshua could have solidified his status as a heavyweight great and served as an inspiration to his Mexican and Mexican-American fans. Instead, Ruiz's lack of preparation and focus led to a disappointing showing, and his career trajectory has been rocky ever since.
"I weighed almost 280-something [pounds], like 290 [pounds]. I don’t know what happened to me," he recalled, expressing regret over underestimating Joshua in their second bout. Ruiz has had a limited number of fights since then, competing just three times in nearly seven years. In these bouts, he has struggled to recapture the form that stunned the boxing world in 2019. Notably, he was knocked down by Chris Arreola in 2021 but managed to secure a unanimous decision victory. He also faced a challenging contest against 43-year-old Luis Ortiz, winning narrowly, and most recently, he fought to a draw against Jarrell Miller in August 2024.
Throughout these fights, Ruiz acknowledged that he was not fully committed to his training regimen. "When I fought Arreola, when I fought Luis Ortiz, when I fought Miller, I was kind of training myself. I had one foot in the water and one foot out," he admitted. This lack of focus and commitment was a significant factor in his underwhelming performances.
Recognizing the need for a change, Ruiz reconnected with his former trainer, Manny Robles, who had guided him to his championship win. Their reunion came about unexpectedly when Ruiz, while on vacation, felt compelled to reach out to Robles. "I ended up calling Manny Robles a little intoxicated. I was all nervous, and I was like, 'Hey Manny, would you ever train me again? I want to get back in the ring,'" he recounted. Robles responded positively, emphasizing the importance of discipline and hard work in their future endeavors together.
As Ruiz prepares for his upcoming fight against Poland's Damian Knyba at the Prudential Center in Newark, he views this bout as a crucial opportunity to reestablish himself in the heavyweight division. This fight will also mark his first contest with Robles since losing his titles to Joshua. Ruiz is determined to prove that he is still a formidable contender in boxing.
Now 36, Ruiz has made significant lifestyle changes, shedding weight from around 300 pounds to 257. He aims to regain the momentum and activity that have been missing since his championship reign. "I want to become a two-time heavyweight champion of the world. I don’t want to just be remembered as the guy who beat Anthony Joshua. I want to be a legend, especially for Mexico, and I want to bring those belts back," he declared, setting his sights on a future filled with promise and potential.
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