Former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr is set to make a comeback to the boxing world in 2022, with the Mexican name-dropping a list of potential targets he wants to face in the ring – including some massive competitors.
The 31-year-old has made little impact since his rematch defeat to Anthony Joshua in late 2019, appearing just once since then, when he defeated Chris Arreola via unanimous decision in May.
Ruiz seemed to be on a slow demise since his initial shock victory against Joshua back in June of 2019, with The Destroyer coming back to the ring against the Brit in what was named the ‘Clash On The Dunes’ in significantly worse shape and ultimately getting bossed about by AJ in Saudi Arabia.
However, since then, Ruiz has enlisted the help of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez’s trainer Eddy Reynoso – who has improved the Mexican’s shape by altering his diet and training regime, which is why now could be a better time than ever to make his way back into the sport.
This means that Ruiz now needs to weigh up his options for a January fight, and with the original candidate of Polish fighter Adam Kownacki looking unlikely due to back-to-back losses, Ruiz is setting his sights on some bigger names.
In an interview with the Last Stand Podcast, a slim-looking Ruiz name-dropped Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and even the new WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion of the world Oleksandr Usyk as a list of potential fighters he wants to get his hands on.
Talk about setting your standards high.
“I wanna fight all the top guys out there. I wanna do the unthinkable. I wanna do something like I did before, only greater.”
The former heavyweight champ seemed massively optimistic about the future and appeared in great shape when talking to podcast host Brian Custer.
Ruiz clearly isn’t shying away from any opportunity during his comeback and has also expressed his desire to fight Joshua once more and complete what would be a fantastic trilogy.
“That third fight HAS to happen. A trilogy is always the best and I think it would be an amazing fight between me and him.”
Granted, Ruiz will need to work his way up the rankings again after his time out, but what sounds like a motivated and disciplined Ruiz could certainly be a dangerous Ruiz - so I’m excited to see what 2022 holds for the fired-up Mexican.