The fight returned Ruiz to the ring for the first time in about two years, since he scored a 12-round draw against Jarrell Miller in August 2024. Hughie, 31, has won eight straight fights since losing to Alexander Povetkin in 2019, but the opposition has been confined and he has stayed away from the field of contenders.

“Well, I could start. You messaged me on Instagram and said, ‘Hey, I think it would be a good fight if we fought, right?’

“And I said, ‘Yes, let’s do it. Send me the contract.’

“Let me know who your promoter, manager, whoever it was because I’m a free agent. But yes, we agreed. Things are taking longer than usual because of negotiations about where it will be, who will host it and what promoter will get it.”

“But we are here,” Andy Ruiz Jr. said. for Boxing King Media.

Ruiz’s career never really took off after two huge payouts against Anthony Joshua in 2019. Many fans understood why his activity declined after he reportedly made life-changing money from these fights, but the strategy backfired.

Instead of constantly rebuilding his business through activity, Ruiz spent years fighting only the biggest fights. He has repeatedly called for a third fight with Joshua, targeted fights with Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder and reportedly priced himself too high during talks to fight Wilder.

The result was a long period of inactivity and a decline in prominence in the heavyweight division that operated without him.

Hughie’s career is at a standstill. He lost decisions to Joseph Parker in 2017 and Kubrat Pulev in 2018, before losing to Povetkin a year later. Since then, he has remained vigorous mainly against lower-tier opponents, failing to take another significant step up. His last fight was in November 2025 with the little-known Michael Webster.

“We both want to fight. So let’s do it.

“I want this fight. You want this. That’s it. Enough talk. Let’s get to the fight,” Hughie Fury said of his interest in fighting Andy Ruiz Jr.

For Ruiz, the fight has an uncomfortable meaning. The former unified heavyweight champion, who looked set to set up major events over the years, is now linked to a heavyweight whose biggest career moments are defeats dating back almost a decade.

“The sport of dressing up and putting in what you say makes money, not skill,” Opetaia told Boxing King Media.

The comment was met with backlash as Opetaia became one of the clearest examples of boxing’s high-risk, low-reward problem.

Although he was stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title outside the ring, many fans still view Opetaia as the true leader of the division as he still holds The Ring’s cruiserweight championship and has never been defeated professionally. However, crucial names rarely mention him.

This became increasingly noticeable after David Benavidez moved up to the cruiserweight division and defeated Gilberto Ramirez in a title fight earlier this month. Despite the victory, Benavidez quickly turned the attention back to a possible future fight against Dmitry Bivol at airy heavyweight instead of talking about Opetai.

The timing was significant because realistically Bivol may not become available until 2027, depending on how his mandatory duties develop following Saturday’s save from Michael Eifert and a likely mandatory start from Callum Smith.

This potentially leaves Benavidez plenty of time for another large fight before Bivol becomes available. Despite this, Opetai’s name rarely comes up in discussions.

This fight is viewed by many as stylistically unsafe for Benavidez due to the way both fighters operate offensively. Benavidez usually positions himself directly in front of his opponents, performing constant combinations and applying pressure. Few fighters approach Opetaia this way due to his striking power, physical strength, and willingness to trade blows in close quarters.

Opetaia himself praised Benavidez in an interview and said that the attractiveness of the fight would come from the skill level, not the hostility created.

“I actually really respect Benavidez and the way he conducts himself,” Opetaia said.

“People want to see our skills.

“That’s what we leave it to. We leave the talks to the ring.”

The lack of earnest public interest in the fight only reinforced Opetai’s broader view that boxing often rewards position and advancement as much as proving who the best fighter actually is.

Canelo Alvarez said he will return to 175 pounds for just one fight, naming a potential opponent he feels has unfinished business against him.

The 35-year-old has not fought since losing his super middleweight title to Terence Crawford, who he moved up two weight classes and won a unanimous decision in September last year.

“Bud” then announced his retirement a few months later, allowing Christian Mbilla to advance from “interim” to full WBC champion after a 10-round draw with Lester Martinez.

More importantly, however, the Frenchman has since created a lucrative opportunity against Canelo, who is looking to reclaim one of his world titles on September 12 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

If he dethrones Mbilli, the Mexican will likely remain at 168 pounds, perhaps to unify the division against Hamzah Sheeraz or Osleys Iglesias.

However, an opportunity at airy heavyweight could tempt him, especially if it involves a rematch with current unified champion Dmitry Bivol.

The clash occurred in 2022, with Bivol scoring a comprehensive points victory and Canelo, in addition to being undersized for weight, seemed to struggle with the elite technician’s footwork.

Now said Alvarez Ring Magazine that he would happily face the 35-year-old in a bid to exact revenge.

“If I get to 175[lbs]it’s a fight with Bivol. Or maybe he [can] get lower [to 168lbs]”

While their rematch could happen sometime next year, Bivol must first end a 15-month layoff and defeat mandatory challenger Michael Eifert on Saturday.

Bivol is also a target of David Benavidez, who currently holds the WBC 175-pound belt. An undisputed fight could happen within the next twelve months.

Benavidez also called up Canelo for the long-awaited showdown, although it appears the Mexican’s interest has not changed.