Former heavyweight titleholder Andy Ruiz signs with Matchroom
September return in works as 'The Destroyer' eyes 2nd title run
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Former unified heavyweight titleholder Andy Ruiz Jr., who has boxed just three times this decade, will return to the ring to fight on DAZN after signing a multi-fight promotional contract with Matchroom Boxing, the company announced on Wednesday.
“I’m so happy and thankful for signing with Matchroom to continue my mission and to become a two-time champion of the world for Mexico,” Ruiz said. “I believe everything happens for a reason and I’m so grateful God is giving me a second opportunity to do everything right. Sometime God breaks you to make you a better person and a better fighter.
“I made history with Matchroom and DAZN and best believe we are going to do it again. Thank you to all my coaches for still believing in me. We are going to make a big statement in the heavyweight division.”
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It was in June 2019 that Ruiz was brought in by Matchroom Boxing as a late replacement for Jarrell Miller, who was busted for various performance-enhancing drugs and dropped from challenging then three-belt titleholder Anthony Joshua.
British superstar Joshua was making his American debut at New York’s Madison Square Garden and floored Ruiz in the third round of what many viewed as a mismatch.
But Ruiz stormed back, dropping Joshua twice in the third round and twice more in the seventh round for the eventual seventh-round knockout in a monumental upset to win the WBO, IBF and WBA titles and become the first heavyweight titleholder of Mexican descent.
However, Joshua invoked his right to an immediate rematch and six months later a dramatically out of shape and unfocused Ruiz lost a near-shutout decision and the titles.
Now Ruiz and Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn are on the same side.
“I’m delighted to welcome Andy to the team,” Hearn said. “The heavyweight landscape is always evolving, and a fully fit and firing Andy Ruiz Jr. is a nightmare for anyone in the division.
“Andy shocked the world in New York with his stunning victory over AJ, and if ‘The Destroyer’ from that night returns to the ring, there is no doubt he can become a two-time world champion.”
However, Ruiz (35-2-1, 22 KOs), 36, of Imperial, California, has fought only three times since losing to Joshua in their December 2019 rematch. He rose from a knockdown to outpoint former title challenger Chris Arreola in May 2021; won a competitive unanimous decision over former title challenger Luis Ortiz in September 2022; and fought to an all-action majority draw with Miller in August 2024.
“We are very happy to be signing with Matchroom and Eddie,” said Andy Ruiz Sr., Andy’s father and manager. “I believe Matchroom is the best promoter to get Andy Jr. back to the top of the heavyweight division. Eddie gave Andy Jr. his first opportunity to become heavyweight champion of the world, and with Matchroom and Eddie we will become two-time heavyweight champion.”
Ruiz, who has reunited with trainer Manny Robles, the cornerman who led him to the victory against Joshua, did not have the first fight of the Matchroom Boxing deal announced but plans are in the works for him to face New Jersey-based Poland native Damian Knyba on Sept. 4 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, where the Top Rank-promoted Knyba is a draw in the large Polish community, sources with knowledge of the plans told Fight Freaks Unite.
Knyba (17-1, 11 KOs), 30, took a major step up in competition in his last fight on Jan.10 in Oberhausen, Germany, where he challenged WBC interim titlist Agit Kabayel in his home country and got drilled in the third round of a one-sided thrashing.
According to sources, the Sept. 4 card would also include Matchroom Boxing’s newly signed middleweight Vito Mielnicki Jr. (23-1, 13 KOs), 24, of Roseland, New Jersey, against fellow Matchroom fighter Austin “Ammo” Williams (20-2, 13 KOs), 30, a southpaw based in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, who is coming off a wide decision loss challenging WBC titlist Carlos Adames on March 21.
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Ruiz photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing
No doubt that Ruiz is a fun fighter to watch when he's in shape and focused. I just feel like he's said the same things before his last three fights and disappeared for 16+ months after each of them. I realize he went through a really messy divorce (with some terrible allegations) in that time so I guess life got in the way.
Turkey paid him 10 million dollars to get himself in shape and start competing again! I was wondering what took so long for him to resurface. But this is show business. Can't wait to see him again!