‘I’LL FIGHT TYSON FURY!’
Andy Ruiz Jnr tells John Dennen if he’d fought Joseph Parker outside of New Zealand, he’d be a world champion
AYEAR ago, Andy Ruiz Jnr fought Joseph Parker for the vacant WBO heavyweight belt. He lost the decision in New Zealand, and here Ruiz reveals what he’s been doing for the past year, what his plans for 2018 are and how he intends to get himself back in world title contention.
What have you been up to since the Joseph Parker fight? You’ve been out of the ring for a while now.
I took a little time off. I was in real estate and I was learning about that because my dad has a construction company. So we started making houses, started selling them. But we have a good plan for next year, 2018.
You’ve got a fight scheduled?
Yes, for February 3 in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Do you know who you might be fighting?
I’m going to have a meeting and negotiate the fight and an opponent. We’ll know pretty soon.
Is there anyone you’d particularly like to fight?
I would like to fight Jarrell Miller. I think that would be a nice matchup.
I give respect to all the heavyweights and all the fighters that step in the ring, because it’s dangerous. We’re all risking our lives. We’re good outside of the ring but inside of the ring it’s business.
Can you say more about the plan for next year?
Next year I’ve got three more fights scheduled. I’m signed with Top Rank still. Finish those three fights and hopefully on the third fight I might have a world title fight – if Joseph Parker fights Anthony Joshua, if they make it happen. I’ll even fight Tyson Fury. He’s coming back. He’s a big guy, I’m a big guy. We can get it on.
What are your thoughts now, looking back on your world title fight with Parker?
It is what it is. He got the [majority] decision. I only had a month-and-a-half to train because they kept changing the dates, if it was going to be in the United States or over there [in Auckland]. They kept changing the dates on us. But there’s nothing really much to say about that fight, apart from me coming back harder and stronger, in better shape.
Do you think if you’d had that fight with Parker somewhere other than his home country that you’d have got the decision?
I think if the fight would have been over here [in the US], I think it would have been the other way around. You know, I learned a lot from this fight. I’m just going to come back. I got a lot of respect and a lot of fans out there, telling me that I won. It is what it is. I’m going to come back stronger.
It was a good experience. Joseph Parker did his thing, I did my thing. Next year’s going to be good.
What do you think of Parker as a fighter? Was there anything that he did that surprised you?
Actually no. He didn’t have nothing. The only thing, if I would have thrown more. I had everything. The only thing... I was like gun-shy. I didn’t throw combinations like I usually do, and I would have won the fight. I came into the fight more and more and more. I had everything. He was just backing up, throwing. I don’t know, I was just like gun-shy. I needed to spar more. Like I said, I only had a monthand-a-half to train. But there’s no excuses in this game, in this sport. The only thing to do is to work harder and come back even stronger.
Are there other heavyweights on your road to another world title fight? Someone like Bryant Jennings, who’s with Top Rank as well? Who could you see a fight happening with?
Bryant Jennings, “King Kong” [Luis Ortiz], I know a lot of people are not going to want to fight him. But an Andy Ruiz in shape, it’s going to be a lot different the rest of my career now. There’s a lot of heavyweights, there’s a lot of heavyweights out there right now. The heavyweights are getting more attractive now. So the best thing is to get in shape.
It’s very exciting. I’ve got to take advantage right now.
What’s your training camp looking like over the next couple of months?
We’re going to be in LA training with Manny Robles. We’re going to be there. [Dominic] Breazeale is right there, the one that fought Joshua. He’s right there. I’m pretty sure we’re going to help each other out [with sparring].
Who do you think is the number one heavyweight in the world at the moment? Who is the man to beat?
I think the main top heavyweights are [Deontay] Wilder and Joshua. They’re the ones that are making noise. The only thing I’m going to do is work hard and get back. I’m still in the top 10. I’ve got to get to these fights and find myself another world title shot. And be in better shape this time.
‘HE DIDN’T HAVE NOTHING. HE WAS JUST BACKING UP’