All eyes on the heavyweight prize for Andy Ruiz
On Saturday, Imperial heavyweight boxer Andy Ruiz Jr. will step into a boxing ring with the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream and become the first-ever heavyweight world champion of Mexican descent.
The 27-year-old Ruiz is going through final preparations in Auckland, New Zealand, for his World Boxing Organization Heavyweight Championship fight against Joseph Parker (21-0, 18 KOs), which is scheduled for Saturday inside Vector Arena in Auckland.
The bout will be televised on a same-day, tape-delay on HBO (9:35 p.m. ET/ PT) leading into a two-fight live card for the network. The bout is being called the biggest sporting event in the history of New Zealand with the 24-year-old Parker, the New Zealand native, listed as the favorite.
“This is my shot. This is the best opportunity of my life and I’m going to give everything I’ve got to win it or die trying,” Ruiz (29-0, 19 KOs) said. “When I walk out of that ring it’s going to be with a world title belt.”
A lot of things had to go right for Ruiz to receive the title shot. A scheduled bout with Hughie Fury in England fell through after Ruiz parted ways with his manager and trainer.
Plus Tyson Fury had to vacate his WBO title belt, along with the IBF belt, due to failed drug tests prior to his scheduled bout.
When the dust settled, the WBO ordered Parker, the organization’s No. 1-ranked fighter, to meet Ruiz, the No. 3-ranked boxer, for the vacant championship belt.
“I truly believe everything happens for a reason and I feel, somehow, God put all those things in place so this fight could be set up,” said Ruiz, who grew up in Imperial but learned to box in his grandfather’s gym in Mexicali. “Me not signing the contracts to go fight Fury seems like it was the best thing for my career.”
Ruiz, who was scheduled to arrive in New Zealand on Dec. 3, said traveling long distances is not an issue with him as he’s already gone to China twice for televised boxing matches.
“I didn’t experience any jet lag on my trips to China and felt good both times I stepped into the ring there,” Ruiz said.
“There are ways to combat jet lag and I’ll have about a week in New Zealand before the fight.”
Another change for Ruiz in preparing for his world title shot is the hiring of manager Abel Sanchez, the Boxing Writers Association of America trainer of the year.
Sanchez, who requires his boxers to train in the altitude of Big Bear, is best known for his work with unified middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin.
Known for being soft around the middle and lackadaisical with his training regime, Ruiz committed to Sanchez and his training methods and says he is in the best shape of his life.
“There’s no ‘BS’ with Abel. He pushes me to the limits in my sparring and he pushes me to the limits with my conditioning,” said Ruiz, who will weigh between 245 pounds and 250 pounds entering the ring on Saturday. “I’m confident going into this fight because I know the hard work we’ve put in. It’s been totally different with a team effort, dedication and hard work.”
If Ruiz is able to bring home the world championship belt, big things could be on the horizon for the self-described “little troublemaker from Imperial.”
He said there is discussion about a possible fight in Mexico City to show off what would be the first-ever heavyweight world champion of Mexican descent.
“The one thing that gets me a little nervous is thinking about hearing that next to my name,” Ruiz admitted. “It’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was 6 years old and its right in front of me.”