The Return Of ‘The Destroyer’: Andy Ruiz’s New Look And Ferocious Training Spark Hope For A Comeback

A video clip of a slim-looking Andy Ruiz received a lot of attention today from fans on social media. The former IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO heavyweight champion Ruiz Jr. (35-2-1, 22 KOs) was hitting the heavy bag with a ferocious intensity, suggesting that he’s serious about wanting to fight. Ruiz has a beast-like vibe to him.

A New-Look ‘Destroyer’

That attitude has been missing from Ruiz, 35, since he lost his titles in his rematch with Anthony Joshua six years ago on December 7, 2019. Ruiz is coming off right-hand surgery to repair an injury he suffered in a 12-round majority draw against Jarrell Miller last year on August 3, 2024, in Los Angeles.

Ruiz says he wants to talk to Turki Alalshikh about getting back in action. Fans on social media would like for Andy to volunteer to be the next opponent for Moses Itauma. That would be one that would potentially give Ruiz a new start if he were to pull off an upset.

Seeking A New Beginning

It would be a career reset, bringing him back to where he was when he defeated Anthony Joshua by a seventh-round knockout on June 1, 2019, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Ruiz transmuted that victory into a small fortune, earning $10 million and setting himself up for life. Beating Itauma would open the doors for Ruiz to make vastly more money than his current fortune.

“My hands are good, feeling good. Mentally, spiritually, I’m feeling good. In September, I’m going to go over there and talk to Turki [Alalshikh] and talk to people who can get me these fights. And hopefully, December, January, we should be in there,” said Andy Ruiz to BoxingScene about his goal of returning to the ring soon.

Ruiz has to fight better than he did in his last contest against Jarrell Miller. Many boxing fans criticized the results of that fight, believing Miller had done enough to be given the win.