USA TODAY International Edition
After 16- month layoff, reborn Ruiz wins
When Andy Ruiz Jr. reflects on the life- changing, roller- coaster sevenmonth stretch of 2019 – how he upset Anthony Joshua that June to become Mexico’s first heavyweight champion, how it all came crashing down in an embarrassing defeat that December – and then recalls how depression and shame engulfed him for much of 2020, the boxer wants no parts of comeback talk.
Saturday night, Ruiz returned to the ring for the first time since that December 2019 loss in a rematch with Joshua that cost him his belts. Despite a second- round knockdown, Ruiz won by unanimous decision over Chris Arreola in a 12- round Fox Sports PPV event that represented a meaningful step in Ruiz’s quest for redemption. But because Ruiz, in his words, has experienced so much change and learned so many lessons in the last 17 months, he’s not even the same man or boxer anymore.
“I feel like the old Andy died and this is the new Andy,” the 31- year- old told USA TODAY Sports the week of the fight. “I feel like this is my pro debut. It means a lot because I know inside that I’m doing the right things and progressing, going to the gym and training hard. It means a lot to me, and hopefully the fans can see and say, ‘ Andy could be more dangerous than he was before because he is more dedicated and more disciplined.’ ”
Ruiz declares himself reborn, and Saturday’s victory could go a long way toward validating that claim. Ruiz wants to send that message, because he views his mission as bigger than reclaiming belts. It’s about gratitude and making good on his promise to God, regaining the respect of family, fans and opponents, and “turning unbelievers into believers.”
Ruiz once wondered if he’d ever have this opportunity. At the point that he describes as “the lowest of the lowest,” he questioned both his own desire and ability to resurrect his career.
While Ruiz was trapped in the throes of depression and regret in the months after his loss, his weight ballooned from 283 pounds ( which was already 15 more than his championship weight thanks to months of celebratory living and halfhearted training) to 310 pounds.
He doubted his desire and ability to rebound, but part of him believed that he had no choice.
“I felt like I let God down and didn’t fulfill my purpose. … I feel like my purpose was to encourage more people and make the unbelievers into believers and let them know God was on my side,” Ruiz told USA TODAY Sports. “He helped me through all my journey and I kind of fell off track and forgot where I came from. I started doing the stuff I shouldn’t be doing, and wasn’t training like I should be training and that’s why I was overweight and wasn’t disciplined and wasn’t focused on the right things. ... There was one day that I was so tired and sick of the way I was living.
“It was just like a spaghetti bowl, going in circles and circles, and I got tired of that life, so I started telling God that if he could forgive me and give me another chance to redeem myself.”
Ruiz recalled falling to his knees one day in late November 2020, sobbing and prayerfully begging for redemption, and for help to get his eating and training under control.
“The next day, everything changed, bro,” he declared.
The temptations that led him astray had vanished. Ruiz had a clear vision.
After convincing super middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez to let him train with him and trainer Eddy Reynoso, Ruiz attacked his mission with a vengeance.
Now six months later, after training religiously and maintaining a healthy diet, he has lost 55 pounds and says he feels more explosive, more elusive and better equipped to fight at a high level.
“I feel so much better and in my body and mind,” Ruiz said. “I know that we’re putting in all the work. I know what we should be doing and shouldn’t be doing. I tell everyone, ‘ I’m not where I want to be but I’m so much better than I was before.’ … Keep being disciplined, staying busy, not getting ready for a fight only when you have a fight, but make it a lifestyle. … I don’t want to go backwards like I did before.”
When he defeated Joshua to pull off one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, Ruiz saw his popularity mushroom not only because he represented the classic underdog tale, or because of the significance for people of Mexican heritage, but also because with his 6- foot- 2, then 268- pound burly figure, he didn’t look like the traditional heavyweight champion of the world, especially standing opposite the chiseled 6- foot- 6, 247- pound Joshua.
But while caught up in his newfound popularity, Ruiz lost sight of his goal of inspiring others and serving as an ambassador for his faith. That realization proved more painful than the actual rematch loss, Ruiz says.
But the renewed discipline, which he says came from God, and the encouragement, support and guidance from Alvarez and his camp lead Ruiz to believe that his best days await him.
He also believes the victory Saturday could serve as a springboard for him to have a greater impact on lives than he did after winning the world title in 2019.
And that is what the new Ruiz, who declares himself drastically changed both on the inside and outside, wants more than anything.