IN A LATE March Instagram post, Ruiz is slipping and dodging a swinging teardrop heavy bag, with his newly developed teardrop quads peeking out from underneath the bottom hem of his shorts. Until that day in the spring of 2020, when Ruiz finally decided he’d had enough. “I had lost what I’d been working for my whole life and I didn’t want to do anything, and I was still partying, trying to find stuff to make me forget about my loss.” “I was empty and sad and I felt I let everyone down,” he recalls. He stopped training altogether, stating matter-of-factly the only running he did was to the grocery store or for fast food. Fueled by the embarrassment and regret of losing his title, Ruiz lifestyle deteriorated further. Richard Heathcote // Getty ImagesĪnd it didn’t stop there. absorbs a punch from Anthony Joshua in their second fight in Saudia Arabia. “I didn’t prepare how I should have,” said Ruiz, who lost by unanimous decision. One British boxing writer noted that “while Joshua sported a six-pack, his opponent appeared to have consumed one.” Joshua danced around the ring, landing speedy hooks and jabs while avoiding trading big blows with the comparably sluggish Ruiz, who was unable to throw his trademark combinations. And by the time his December 2019 rematch with Joshua in Saudi Arabia rolled around, Ruiz rolled into the ring at 284 pounds, 16 pounds heavier than he had been in their first fight. He partied hard, drinking and eating to excess. Ruiz bought a garage full of luxury cars–a Mercedes, two Rolls Royces, a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and a Porsche. But the success went directly to Ruiz’s head, and to his waistline. It was a victory for the underdog and the doughy dad-bod–Ruiz and wife Julie have five children-and it was a dream come true. Ruiz, born in Imperial, CA, to Mexican parents, was the first boxer of Mexican descent to become the heavyweight champ. celebrates his victory over Anthony Joshua in June of 2019 at Madison Square Garden. He called Ruiz “the epitome of ‘don’t judge a book by his cover.’” “This is a surprise to boxing fans and the world,” said boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, commenting ringside. But Ruiz moved well and punched hard, dropping the Brit to the canvas four times en-route to a stunning seventh-round TKO and one of biggest boxing upsets in recent memory. At a paunchy 268 pounds, Ruiz looked out of his league alongside the chiseled Joshua, who was a 1-25 favorite. The deal was done, and on June 1, 2019, Ruiz stepped into the ring against the undefeated Joshua at Madison Square Garden with four title belts on the line. At that point, Hearn reached out to Ruiz Jr., who had just beaten German heavyweight Alexander Dimitrenko on Apand said after the fight that, if given the opportunity to fight Joshua on short-notice, he’d go immediately back into camp to prepare. A half dozen marquee fighters showed interest, but all of them wanted a big paycheck, including Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz whose manager declined Hearn’s offer of $7 million. Team Ruizįight promoter Eddie Hearn needed a qualified and legitimate opponent for Joshua, and he needed one as soon as possible. as a younger fighter with legendary trainer Freddie Roach. Next May it will be a year since Ruizs last fight, when he defeated Chris Arreola in his first fight under the baton of Eddy Reynoso in 2021 however, months later the boxer had to undergo knee surgery.Ruiz Jr. One of the most anticipated returns in the world of boxing is that of Andy Ruiz, a boxer who a few months ago had placed himself under the orders of Eddy Reynoso, in order to regain the level he had when he was proclaimed world heavyweight champion by beating Britain's Anthony Joshua. It came one day and then it doesn't come anymore, "said Canelo to ESPN. I don't know what happened to Andy Ruiz, it's the same (as Ryan Garcia). "You could ask Oscar Valdez and Frank Sanchez. The world champion assured that he is unaware of what caused or any situation that these boxers are going through to justify their lack of commitment compared to the rest of the team. If you come and train for 20 minutes, you won't come for four days or arrive after the time you agreed to. If you take the time to be in the gym and train properly with discipline, Eddie will always be there. "Eddy has time for all fighters, you can ask everyone.
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