‘I know I can beat him’ – Andy Ruiz Jr makes new fight plea to Tyson Fury as he names heavyweight hit-list

Andy Ruiz Jr. has declared his intent to challenge some of the heavyweight division’s top stars as he aims to reclaim his status as a two-time world champion. The Mexican-American fighter is set to make his ring return after a two-year hiatus, with his comeback fight against Jarrell Miller scheduled to feature on the undercard of Terence Crawford’s highly anticipated bout this weekend.

 

Ruiz, who gained prominence with his stunning upset victory over Anthony Joshua in 2019, had his sights set on a bout with the British heavyweight Tyson Fury. The two boxers previously discussed a potential fight during a spontaneous meeting in 2021. Now, Ruiz has renewed his call for a showdown with Fury, alongside a list of other notable fighters he hopes to face in the near future.

 

In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Ruiz outlined his ambitions and highlighted some of the fighters he considers the most dangerous in the current heavyweight landscape. He expressed his desire to compete against Oleksandr Usyk, the recent undisputed heavyweight champion, as well as Zhilei Zhang, who he believes presents a unique challenge due to his distinctive fighting style. However, it is Fury who stands out as Ruiz’s primary target.

 

Ruiz stated, “There’s a few I want to fight, anybody that is over 200lbs and can punch is always dangerous. But I feel like Oleksandr Usyk he is one of them, Zhilei Zhang he is one of them and he has a different style that I could face. I want to face Tyson Fury, I always thought that I could beat him and always wanted the opportunity to fight him.”

 

Ruiz elaborated on his confidence in facing Fury, acknowledging the British fighter’s extensive experience and past battles. Despite this, Ruiz remains steadfast in his belief that he has the ability to secure a victory. “I know that he has been through an awful lot of battles and all of that. But I know that I could damn well do my best and that I could beat him,” Ruiz asserted.

 

The path to his current aspirations has been far from smooth. After his landmark win over Joshua, which earned him the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles, Ruiz’s career took a downturn. He returned to the ring for a rematch with Joshua in December 2019 but lost his titles in a lackluster performance. Since then, Ruiz has managed only two victories, over Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz, with both wins coming in 2022. This lack of activity and consistency has somewhat diminished his standing in the heavyweight division.

 

Ruiz acknowledges that the heavyweight division has evolved significantly, with Usyk and Zhang emerging as key figures in recent years. The resurgence of the division has been marked by high-profile fights, many of which have been hosted in Saudi Arabia. The potential for financial backing from Saudi investors could facilitate major matchups that were previously difficult to arrange.

 

Despite earlier speculation that financial demands had derailed a potential bout between Ruiz and Fury, the evolving landscape of the sport, including the substantial financial resources available in Saudi Arabia, could now enable such a fight to become a reality. Ruiz’s focus, however, remains on regaining his footing in the sport. Before pursuing these high-profile bouts, he aims to settle a previous score with Joseph Parker, expressing a desire for a rematch with the New Zealand fighter.

 

Ruiz commented on his immediate plans, saying, “For me next it’s Jarrell Miller; god willing we get that win and hopefully I’d love to run it back with Joseph Parker. The main thing is just getting the victory, getting back in action and getting ready to fight those big boys.”

 

He further emphasized his intention to face top contenders, stating, “Me personally I would like to have two fights, against people that are in the top ten or top fifteen. I’ll fight against anyone else after this fight. I just want to fight the top guys man. Joseph Parker is doing amazing things right now. He beat Wilder and he beat Zhang. I’d love to fight him too.”

 

Ruiz remains determined to make a significant comeback and solidify his position in the heavyweight division. With his sights set on becoming a two-time world champion, he is prepared to take on the sport’s elite fighters and prove his mettle once again.