The Audition: Andy Ruiz Jr.’s Mitt Workout Serves As A Desperate Plea For A Second Chance

Andy Ruiz Jr. showcased his hand speed while working out on mitts this week with his coach, hinting at a possible return to the ring. Ruiz turns 36 next week on September 11, and he’s in a position where he needs to make something happen in his career before he ages out.

An Audition for Alalshikh?

The intensity that Ruiz Jr. showed in his workout suggests that he’s serious about his training. In some ways, it looks like an audition by him to be selected by Turki Alalshikh for another one of his well-paying events after his disappointing performance last year.

The video clip of Ruiz Jr. training on mitts has been overwhelmingly criticized by fans online, who view him as not taking his career seriously, after earning $10 million from his two fights against Anthony Joshua in 2019. They view the massive windfall that Ruiz Jr. made against AJ, and his hunger, motivation, and performances have declined. Ruiz has fought just three times in the last six years since 2019.

Could Ruiz Have Saved the Undercard?

Miller would be a good addition to the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford to give U.S fans a more appealing fighter than the current fighters on the card. There’s been minimal buzz online from fans about the undercard fights. It’s obviously too late to add Ruiz to the card, but he would have been ideal for the co-feature against a high-ranking contender like Jared Anderson, Martin Bakole, or Richard Torrez Jr.

It’s questionable whether Turki will take an interest in Ruiz after his last showing against Jarrell Miller on August 3, 2024. After that non-effort from Ruiz, one can’t blame Turki if he chooses not to go down that road again. Still, Ruiz would have been a nice addition to the Canelo-Crawford card.

The former IBF, WBA, and WBO heavyweight champion Ruiz (35-2-1, 22 KOs) has been inactive for the last 13 months since fighting to a controversial 12-round majority draw against Miller at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. 

Ruiz vs. Miller Punch Stats

• Andy Ruiz Jr: 113 of 355 thrown for a 31.8% connect rate
• Jarrell Miller: 183 of 514 for 35.6%