Boxing
Andy Ruiz on Preparing for Jarrell Miller, Who Wants to Become a Two-Time Champion
Published
6 months agoon
By
J. HumzaAndy 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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Boxing
Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC
Published
2 days agoon
January 13, 2025The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).
If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.
“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”
29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.
Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.
“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”
Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.
The next move is Badou Jack’s.
Boxing
Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years
Published
4 days agoon
January 12, 2025Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.
This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.
In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.
“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.
“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.
Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.
Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.
Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.
However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.
In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.
It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.
Boxing
Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios
Published
1 week agoon
January 6, 2025WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.
Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”
WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.
Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.
As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.
However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.
Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.
Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.
Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.
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