Andy Ruiz Jr. faces Jarrell Miller in a must-win heavyweight conflict in 19 days on August third on ESPN+ PPV on the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The 2 ageing, chunky heavyweights will meet on the undercard of the Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov card.
(Credit score: Matchroom Boxing)
Ruiz’s Final Stand?
If Ruiz loses this combat, he would possibly need to take into account retiring from the game as a result of it might finish any hopes of him getting the trilogy match in opposition to Anthony Joshua that he’s been banging on about for the final 5 years.
Jarrell Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs) could have the sting on this contest, as he seemed significantly better in his final combat in a dropping effort to Daniel Dubois on December 23d, 2023, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Miller misplaced by a tenth-round TKO however gave Dubois huge issues within the first six rounds.
The 34-year-old former IBF, WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22 KOs) hasn’t seemed sharp since his upset seventh-round knockout victory over Anthony Joshua 5 years in the past on June 1st, 2019. It’s evident now that it was a fluke, catching the chinny AJ with a shot he didn’t count on and ending.
Since then, Ruiz has fought solely 3 times and has seemed poor in every combat. In his final combat, he defeated Luis Ortiz by a unanimous choice in twelve rounds in 2022.
“I feel Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller is an excellent combat. Firstly, all people is aware of Andy Ruiz,” mentioned promoter Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing, speaking in regards to the August third undercard heavyweight contest between former unified champion Andy Ruiz Jr. and Jarrell Miller in Los Angeles.
The matchup is good. Two heavyweights of their mid-30s are able the place they’ll’t afford to undergo one other loss to remain within the operating for profitable matches. Ruiz has larger goals than Miller, on condition that he’s a former unified heavyweight champion with the potential to usher in large crowds for his fights in Southern California.
Eddie Hearn’s Ideas on the Combat
“He defeated Anthony Joshua at Madison Sq. Backyard [on June 1, 2019, by a seventh-round knockout] and has been on the lookout for a giant combat since. He’s been out for a bit of bit [22 months since September 4, 2022] of time,” mentioned Hearn in regards to the one-hit-wonder Ruiz.
“I truly assume, talking to [trainer] Bozy Ennis, who has bought Jarrell Miller in camp. You take a look at photos of him, and he’s wanting in actually good condition. That’s one thing that has been an issue for him previously; that form is conditioning,” mentioned Hearn.
Even the out-of-shape-looking 333-lb Jarell Miller, who fought Dubois final December, can be pure bother for Andy Ruiz Jr. Clearly, it’s necessary that the 36-year-old Miller comes into this combat slimmer and in higher situation.
“I truly assume it is a actually robust combat for Andy Ruiz. It’s going to be all motion,” mentioned Hearn. “Jarrell Miller is all the time going to be on the entrance foot, all the time involves combat, and Andy is a really sharp counter-puncher as properly, however he’s been out of the ring for a very long time.”
It is a very robust combat for Andy Ruiz Jr. as a result of he hasn’t fought in a very long time and has seemed horrid in his final three fights. In his final combat, 43-year-old Luis Ortiz outboxed him, and he was solely saved by the knockdowns.
“There’s going to be large assist for him in Los Angeles, however he higher have starvation in his stomach for this combat as a result of in any other case, he’ll get overrun by Jarrell Miller,” mentioned Hearn about Ruiz.
The assist can’t save Ruiz if he can’t deal with Miller’s excessive output and aggression as a result of he’ll put it on him from spherical one till the combat ends. Ruiz’s ambition simply doesn’t appear to be there anymore, and it’s believed he’s simply hanging round for the cash.
Destiny’s Twist
“Jarrell Miller pulls out of the combat; Andy Ruiz steps in. AJ suffers his first defeat, and now they’re [Miller and Ruiz] preventing one another,” mentioned Hearn about how destiny modified Ruiz’s profession, turning a run-of-the-mill fighter right into a millionaire, setting him up for all times.
“It’s a giant combat for the heavyweight division. You’re seeing these nice matchups within the heavyweight division now the place the contenders are preventing one another, and I feel it’s nice for the game,” mentioned Hearn.
I wouldn’t go as far as to name Miller and Ruiz prime contenders at this level of their careers, however they’re fringe-level. It’s necessary for them. The winner in all probability isn’t going to get a title shot. If it’s Ruiz, he might want to beat somebody within the prime 5, like Jared Anderson or Agit Kabayel, to place himself in place for a world title shot, if that’s the objective.
I’m unsure that it’s. I feel Ruiz simply desires fights in opposition to Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to gather extra dough after which relax for an additional one to 2 years till one other good payday supply falls into his lap.
“To not simply have guys preventing for the world title, however the prime contenders within the division preventing one another,” mentioned Hearn.
