Since the silence after his comeback in May 2021, Andy Ruiz Jr has recently been hinting at a return to the ring. While there is no confirmation on who the American will face next, new footage shows a leaner, faster Ruiz preparing for a bout.Having returned in 2021, Ruiz has been wanting to aim for the heads of some of the biggest names in boxing, and has previously name-dropped the likes of Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte and even current WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. It seems whoever Ruiz fights will be no easy match. While looking faster than ever in new training footage, many still have concerns over Ruiz’s future in the world of professional boxing. After creating one of the biggest upsets in world boxing by beating Anthony Joshua in June 2019, it seemed that Ruiz had the world at his feet, taking the heavyweight belts and opening an opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the biggest names and defend his new heavyweight titles. These aspirations were quickly humbled when in December of that same year Joshua returned to reclaim his titles in the ‘Clash on the Dunes’ in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

Ruiz blamed this defeat on not ‘taking the fight seriously,’ claiming that he was swept up in the euphoria of beating Joshua the first time and hadn't been persistent in his training since.

After this defeat, it seemed that Ruiz faded into irrelevance, and despite a return beating older, slower competitor Chris Arreola with the backing of new trainer Eddy Reynoso, Ruiz has been far from the heights of 2019.

Yet, the new footage shows a revised and rejuvenated Ruiz. One that perhaps has not been seen during his rollercoaster of a professional career, with a replenished focus, new trainer and taking fights one step at a time, this stage is crucial if Ruiz wants to return to the very top.