Andy Ruiz Jr. could not recognize himself in the mirror. After defeating Anthony Joshua in 2019 and becoming the first heavyweight world champion of Mexican descent, everything slipped out of his hands.
The rematch six months later found him weighing nearly 284 pounds, and the title slipped away along with his discipline. Seven years and several uneven fights later, Ruiz went back to Manny Robles, the trainer who took him to glory.
Together they put together a quiet plan: lose 43 pounds, from the 300 pounds he reached between fights to the 254.3 pounds at which he stepped on the scale this week in Newark.
It is his lowest weight since 2018. This Friday, September 4, at Prudential Center, Ruiz faces Polish fighter Damian Knyba, 6’7″ and a former Joshua sparring partner, with a new contract with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing in hand.
If everything goes well, there is only one stated dream: a trilogy with the man who took the title from him.