Andy Ruiz Jr: Can ‘The Destroyer’ make one last run at a world title?

Andy Ruiz Jr is back, but can he really get back to the top?

Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2-1 22 KOs) returns next week, September 4, with the former unified heavyweight champion attempting to revive a career that once appeared destined for greatness before a dramatic fall from the top.

Now, fighting under the Matchroom banner, Ruiz is targeting another run at world honours, seven years after becoming world champion.

From underdog to heavyweight champion

Ruiz will face Polish puncher Damian Knyba on September 4 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, his first fight since his majority draw with Jarrell Miller two years ago in August 2024.

More importantly, it represents the beginning of what the 36-year-old hopes will be one final push towards becoming heavyweight champion again, “I’m going to be fighting in Newark, New Jersey on September 4 baby! After we get this victory, I would love to fight all the guys that have the belts the Oleksandr Usyk vacated and we’re going to become a two-time champion next year, let’s get it!”

It is difficult to discuss Ruiz’s career without returning to June 2019.

At Madison Square Garden, the stand-in opponent, for the aforementioned Miller, who was caught with multiple banned substances in his system, was supposed to be little more than an obstacle in Anthony Joshua’s American debut and takeover of the States.

Instead, the Mexican-American produced one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history, climbing off the canvas to drop Joshua four times before stopping him in the seventh round.

In the space of one night, the unheralded Californian went from a late replacement and significant underdog to the unified heavyweight champion of the world.

It was the kind of victory that changes a fighter’s life forever.

The fall from the top

But the next chapter changed Ruiz’s career just as dramatically.

Six months later, he arrived in Saudi Arabia to defend his titles against the vengeful Joshua in the rematch. He turned up considerably heavier than he had been in the first fight and later admitted that he had not prepared properly for the biggest fight of his life, only starting training camp a few weeks before.

The disciplined Joshua took advantage.

Rather than engaging in the exchanges that had made the first fight so chaotic, Joshua boxed smartly behind his jab, controlled the distance and cruised to a unanimous decision victory against the unfit champion.

Ruiz had reached the very top of boxing. He then appeared to lose the opportunity almost as quickly as he had found it.

Three fights in almost seven years

Since that disastrous rematch, Ruiz has struggled to maintain momentum. He defeated Chris Arreola in 2021, his first fight with his new trainer Eddy Reynoso, then he beat Luis Ortiz in 2022 and drew with Miller in 2024. Three fights in almost seven years is a remarkably low level of activity for a heavyweight attempting to return to the championship picture.

There have also been repeated changes around Ruiz, particularly in the training department. His partnership with Eddy Reynoso did not produce the prolonged resurgence many expected, while his decision to reunite with Manny Robles is an attempt to return to the environment that helped him produce the greatest victory of his career.

Now Matchroom has taken control of the promotional side.

For Ruiz, the message is clear: he believes there is still time to become a world champion again.

Has money become an obstacle?

But there is another uncomfortable question surrounding Ruiz — has money become too important?

The fighter has repeatedly been linked with major fights that failed to materialise, and there have been reports of him demanding substantial purses during negotiations. Tyson Fury went further earlier this year, claiming Ruiz had priced himself out of a proposed fight by asking for what 'The Gypsy King' described as “ridiculous numbers.”

That does not necessarily make Ruiz greedy. A former unified heavyweight champion is entitled to value his career appropriately, particularly after generating enormous attention and revenue during his rise. But boxing is a sport with a notoriously short window of opportunity.

At 36, he no longer has unlimited time to wait for the perfect payday.

If he genuinely wants another world title, activity has to become the priority.

A fresh start with Matchroom

That is where Matchroom Boxing could prove significant.

British promoter Eddie Hearn has spoken positively about Ruiz’s ability to compete with the leading heavyweights, and the promotional company now has the opportunity to put together the kind of consistent schedule that has been missing from Ruiz’s career.

But first comes Knyba.

The 6ft 7in Polish heavyweight represents a difficult opponent for a fighter returning from another lengthy layoff. Ruiz cannot afford to treat the fight as a mere stepping stone. If anything, he needs to put on a career-best performance.

A convincing victory would immediately make the conversation about his future more interesting; another underwhelming performance could leave serious doubts about whether the former champion has anything left to offer.

Does ‘The Destroyer’ still have it?

The talent, at least, has never been difficult to identify.

The portly heavyweight possesses exceptional hand speed for a heavyweight, dangerous combinations and enough punching power to hurt elite opponents. Boxing since the age of six at his grandfather's gym has produced a pure technique and natural stamina, which is how he was able to accumulate a highly impressive 105-5 amateur record.

His victory over Joshua proved that he can compete with the very best when everything comes together.

The problem is getting everything to come together.

Preparation, inactivity, weight, motivation and consistency have all been recurring themes throughout Ruiz’s career since becoming champion.

Now he has another opportunity.

One last run?

The heavyweight division is entering a new era, and there will eventually be openings for fighters capable of putting together a run. Ruiz does not necessarily need to become the fighter he was in 2019. He needs to become active, disciplined and dangerous enough to earn another opportunity.

That is the challenge.

Ruiz has already experienced the highest point of his career. He knows what it feels like to have championship belts around his waist and the boxing world talking about him.

He also knows how quickly it can disappear.

The next chapter begins against his 39th opponent Knyba.

If Andy wins, he needs to stay busy. If he wins impressively, the conversation changes. If he can string together victories against increasingly credible opposition, a world-title fight could become realistic again.

But this time, there is no guarantee that another opportunity will come.

Andy Ruiz Jr. shocked the world once.

Now, with Matchroom behind him and the clock ticking, he is attempting to do something arguably even harder: convince the boxing world that he still belongs at the top.

DID YOU KNOW? When Andy Ponce Ruiz Jr. won the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO world titles in 2019, he became the first-ever heavyweight champion of Mexican descent in boxing history.