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Andy Ruiz on Preparing for Jarrell Miller, Who Wants to Become a Two-Time Champion

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Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22 KOs) will return after a nearly two-year layoff to face Jarrell Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs) on August 3 on the undercard of Riyadh Season’s debut event in the United States at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The event will be broadcast on DAZN, ESPN and PPV.com.

BoxingScene recently caught up with the 34-year-old “Destroyer” Ruiz while training in Los Angeles to chat with the former heavyweight champion, who had plenty to say on a variety of topics.

On the last two years away from boxing…

I liked taking time off [to stay fresh]even though I didn’t want to. I think the break helped, especially when other fighters were eliminating each other. I feel like I’m coming back at a good time. Just because I haven’t fought doesn’t mean I haven’t been in the gym.

I appreciate all the haters who talk bad about me. They motivate me and make me better. I have to try. It’s me vs. me. Sometimes we beat ourselves. I didn’t fight and train properly [before]. But you know what? I’ve learned so much from the ups and downs of life. I’m taking it seriously again, continuing my mission to become a two-time heavyweight champion.

[If I could redo one thing, it would be] peace at home. It’s really vital to be focused, spiritually and mentally ready for the fight. I chilled out, tried to meditate, focused on the right things and got my act together. All fighters have their ups and downs and their roller coasters, but we have to find ourselves and continue the mission. That’s why we fight. I fight for my kids and to become a two-time heavyweight world champion. I fight so my kids don’t have to fight. This sport is ugly. It’s tough. I give God the glory and the victory for all my fights. I came back better, stronger, motivated and hungry.

I want to train strenuous and stay busy. I don’t want to fight and then you won’t see me for two years and say, “What happened to Andy?” I want to stay here for a long time.

It’s an open division now. There are so many heavyweights coming in left and right. But the main guy right now is Jarell Miller. I have to pass that test and get the win.

Against Jarrell Miller…

I never predict knockouts, but I predict I’ll win. I’m focused. I don’t take anyone lightly. I’m pretty sure he’ll come in lighter than the 333 pounds he weighed in his last fight with Daniel Dubois. He loves eating burgers, just like me. He’ll want to prove himself after his loss. He’ll be stronger and more motivated. That’s why I’m training strenuous and I don’t think he’ll look the same as he did in the Dubois fight, when he got tired so quickly. I thought he’d win. I was in his corner, rooting for him. I wanted him to win. But Dubois did his thing. It just wasn’t his night, but I think the weight had a gigantic impact.

He is gigantic, mighty and delivers powerful punches, but I think my dynamics, combinations and speed will definitely lend a hand me win this fight.

On how Miller turned his life around after failing a drug test, which opened the door for him to fight Anthony Joshua in 2019 as a replacement opponent and win the heavyweight title…

I told him, “Man, without you none of this would have happened.” Shout out to Miller for giving me a chance. Gloomy it happened, but people make mistakes and learn from them. It was just my time to shine.

I always salute him – there’s nothing bad to say about him. Outside the ring we’re good friends, but inside the ring it’s a whole different thing. We’ll turn on that switch because we both want to be world champions.

On Miller’s history with performance-enhancing drugs…

NO, [I’m not worried about Miller’s PED history]because we have VADA drug testing for this fight and we’ve been testing throughout camp. I don’t think PEDs will matter in a fight with me. It sucks when people do that. Someone could get hurt.

On the weight he plans to achieve in the fight with Miller…

I plan to weigh the same, around 268 pounds, for Miller as I did when I first fought Anthony Joshua in 2019. I don’t want to lose too much weight because I know he’ll be over 300 pounds. I’ve listened to the criticism before and tried to lose weight and look good. But God made me a chubby, chiseled, mighty champion. Why change it if it worked the first time? We’re not focusing on weight, we’re focusing on improving our skills. I’ll be mighty and explosive. We’ve trained strenuous.

In the trilogy fight with Joshua…

Of course I want a third fight with Joshua. That’s why I’m here and I’m back in action. I have to climb the ranks again and earn my chance. I’ll say with humility that I have to fight and win. He did a really good job [resurrecting his career]. It shows that anyone can come back. Not only to prove it to people, but to myself, which is what I’m doing. He hits really strenuous. He’s the hardest puncher I’ve ever faced.

On a potential fight with Oleksandr Usyk…

I met him recently in Las Vegas and told him it would be great if we fought. I’m betting on Usyk in his rematch with Tyson Fury. I’m sure he can do it.

On a potential fight with Tyson Fury…

I don’t know [if I’ll get the fight]. He’s been through a lot of wars. He said he could beat me. with one hand tied behind his back. This may be his last fight, in December against Usyk.

On him not getting to fight Deontay Wilder last year…

Oh man. This is [gone]Everything happens for a reason. We were negotiatingbut ultimately I needed shoulder surgery. What if I go into the fight, get hurt and don’t play? I’m cheerful. It’s all in God’s time.

On welcoming David Benavidez to the heavyweight division one day…

I think David can do anything because he’s gigantic and mighty. He probably walks around weighing 200 pounds. It just takes time. He’s super teenage and talented. If he moves up to heavyweightI hope he gives me a chance to fight too. I want to see Benavidez fight [Saul] “Canelo” Alvarez. Benavidez deserves a chance. But as Canelo says, he can do whatever he wants and fight whoever he wants, and it’s just a matter of whether he wants to please the crowd.

If Ruiz defeats Miller, who else could he face next…

God willing, we’ll get rid of Miller. There are so many great fighters who can move you up the rankings. It’s just about the chance. It’s just about the timing. But I want a rematch with Joseph Parker. I knew I could have done better the first time I fought him in Modern Zealand. [in 2016 for the vacant WBO title]I feel like I needed more support [during training camp]. But I learned a lot from this experience.

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Tyson’s conqueror, Danny Williams, was “never considered” for Morrison

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Kenzie Morrison Danny Williams

World Boxing News has learned that Danny Williams was never considered for a fight against Tommy Morrison’s son Kenzie on November 9.

WBN has learned from a source that Williams was scheduled to face Morrison next month when he returns to action at Firelake Arena in Shawnee. However, promoter Tony Holden confirmed what WBN initially reported, namely that Williams had been offered for the fight.

BoxRec also briefly placed Williams within Morrison’s record on November 9, before removing the former British champion. Williams famously knocked out Mike Tyson in 2004, but has since lived off his victory despite losing his British license more than a decade ago.

Holden, who represents Morrison and is looking for an opponent for the competition in three weeks, explained the situation exclusively to WBN.

“I never confirmed William’s story and I never considered him,” Holden said. “I said no when a local promoter suggested it.”

Williams, 51, last fought in August 202, losing for the 33rd time in his career. With 88 professional fights under his belt, Williams seems unable to turn down a payday despite his advanced age.

Morrison, a power puncher who has stopped 19 of his 21 wins, will look for his next conquest elsewhere. The fight with Mike Balogun remains on the table for 2025 after it was postponed from its original October date.

Balogun, who knocked out Kenzi’s brother Trey in the first round, claimed Morrison was pulled from the fight to spare him the loss.

Holden denies this view.

“Even though this post isn’t up to my standards, I’m going to write it anyway. Mike Balogun falsely claimed that I pulled Kenzie Morrison out of the fight because I was afraid he would lose. Please allow me to correct you, Mr. Balogun,” he stated.

“The decision was not made by Kenzie. Let’s raise the stakes and make it fascinating. If you emerge victorious this month, Kenzie will fight in November.

“We may decide this early next year. If your confidence remains unshaken, we can place a significant bet. Watch Kenzie take revenge on her brother and end your career.

Balogun, a former San Francisco 49ers linebacker, responded to Holden by increasing his salary for a potential collision next year.

“No matter how fair and honorable your decision was, just remember that ‘yesterday’s price is not today’s price,’” said the 2010 undrafted pick.

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Andrew Moloney is confident that if given the chance, he would have beaten Phumelele Cafu and Kosei Tanaka

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Andrew Moloney (left) attacks Pedro Guevara – photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Few people were more disappointed than Andrew Moloney when Kosei Tanaka lost his WBO super flyweight belt to Phumelele Cafu at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan on Monday night.

The 33-year-old Australian veteran was hoping to get a shot at beating Tanaka in the lucrative Japanese market.

Those dreams were dashed when South Africa’s Cafu delivered the performance of his life, knocking out Tanaka in the fifth round and finishing the fight strongly, beating the four-weight world champion by split decision.

“The plan was to target the WBO and really chase the Tanaka fight, but it all fell apart on Monday night,” Moloney (26-4-1NC, 16 KO) told The Ring. “I think the WBO is probably still the direction we go, but I’m not sure if they have a rematch clause or if Tanaka will take it. But after watching the fight yesterday, I would be really confident that I could fight one of these guys and win. We would like to follow this path.

“I would love to fight Tanaka in Japan as a four-division world champion. He’s definitely someone I’ve looked up to and wanted to fight for a long time.

“Last night was a little hard to watch. The way he performed, I’m more confident than ever that I have what it takes to beat Tanaka.

I assume there will be a rematch and I hope that Tanaka will regain the belt and I will be able to return to the ring and climb the rankings, and maybe this fight will still happen.

Tanaka entered Moloney’s orbit four years ago when he debuted at 115 pounds. Earlier this year, it looked like they were also on a collision course, with Moloney being number one in the WBO rankings. However, when an offer was made for the vacant IBF lightweight title fight between Vasily Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. in May in Perth, Western Australia, Moloney felt he couldn’t turn her down.

This decision ended in disaster. Moloney faced Carlos Cuadras, who withdrew from the fight with a ruptured Achilles tendon and was replaced by Pedro Guevara. Moloney entered the fight with a torn bicep and was largely reduced to boxing with one hand, which circumscribed his punching power.

Still, Moloney felt he did more than enough to win, and was shocked when Guevara was declared the winner by split decision. He was so disappointed that he announced immediately after the fight that he was leaving the ring, but a few days later he withdrew these comments.

It was a breakthrough moment in his career.

“Looking back, it’s a wonderful thing, but watching the Tanaka-Cafu fight made me think that maybe I would do a lot of things if I could turn back time a little bit,” Moloney explained.

“Before my last fight, I was number one in the WBO rankings and I rejected the option of waiting to fight Tanaka. But the opportunity arose to fight Guevara in Australia for the interim WBC title on a major card, and to be candid, I kind of regretted that the Tanaka fight was hanging in the balance, but ultimately we decided to stay busy and take the opportunity to fight in Australia.

“Also, the injury before the fight was another thing I thought about: will I undergo surgery, keep the top spot and wait for Tanaka, but I made the decision to go ahead with the fight with Guevara. Looking back now, maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing to do. And looking at the way Tanaka fought last night, I thought maybe I should have waited. I’m sure I could beat Tanaka and take the belt away from him.

“So I take some consolation, but unfortunately you can’t turn back time.”

It’s been a frustrating year for Moloney, but he’s still hitting the gym and his team is working to get him another fight. The window of opportunity to box again this year is closing quickly, but he still hopes to return to the ring in December, most likely in his native Australia.

“I really hope so,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been working on. I have been training strenuous at the gym for some time, quite a few months. I hope to return before the end of the year.

“At this stage it will probably be December. I’m trying to block something, but so far no luck. I’m still training away as if the fight was to take place in December, the team is currently working on it and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll be able to finish it.

“I just hope we can get out before the end of the year, get back into the winner’s circle and start climbing the rankings again.”

Moloney, who fought at bantamweight for the first three years of his professional career before dropping down to super flyweight, surprisingly, said he would even consider moving up to another weight class given the right opportunity.

“It’s a tough time in the super flyweight division,” said Moloney, the eighth challenger to The Ring’s 115-pound title. “There’s a lot going on and it’s always strenuous to plan which route to take because everything changes so quickly. I’d pick Bam Rodriguez to beat Guevara, then there’s talk of a rematch between Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez on Up-to-date Year’s Eve. And then there’s talk of Bama, if they win, fighting the winner of that game in unification. The WBO seems to me the fastest way to win the title, so that’s the path we will follow.

“We have also rejected for some time the idea of ​​moving up to flyweight and getting crack there. There’s also some engaging scene going on there right now, but it’s still uncertain. I’d probably feel a little better at super flyweight, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens with Cafu and Tanaka, but like I said, I’d feel comfortable and confident against either of them, so hopefully he can make it it will happen sooner rather than later.”

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Doubts that fuel 19-year-old Benjamin Johnson

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Despite an impressive amateur resume, welterweight Benjamin Johnson of Springdale, Maryland, enters the professional ring with a shoulder injury.

Johnson will face Kevin Pantoja in a four-round fight at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Maryland, promoted by his trainer Lamont Roach Snr’s NoXcuses Promotions. The fight will be broadcast on Saturday on ProBox TV.

Johnson, 1-0 (1 KO), spent just 2:23 in the ring in his professional debut, displaying the quick, aggressive hands that won him multiple national titles. However, 19-year-old Johnson feels an advantage, believing he is being overlooked by his NoXcuses Boxing Gym teammates.

Pantoja, 1-1, 27, has never stopped being a professional – Johnson aims to change that.

“People underestimate me,” Johnson said. “It’s been like that since I was an amateur.”

He added that this underestimation increases his motivation in the gym. Johnson is determined to prove his worth not only to himself, but also to those who doubt him or, worse, don’t recognize him. “I never felt like I was recognized as that guy, so I feel like I’m underappreciated,” Johnson said of his amateur and now professional career.

Johnson sees the fight as a key step in his career, compared to feared forward David Benavidez by some teammates and touted by others as one of the most ready-to-fight prospects in the country.

“I train as much as I can,” Johnson said. “It’s about making a statement. The way you win shows people what you’re capable of, and I’m ready to show my best.

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