Andy Ruiz Jr. registered a successful return against Chris Arreola, claiming a unanimous win (117-110, 118-109, and 118-109) in his favor. He outpointed ‘The Nightmare’ thoroughly and found a way back to the championship ride.

However, Arreola might have exposed a lot of loopholes that the other heavyweight contenders can comfortably explore against ‘Destroyer’. The 40-year-old Chris Arreola, who ended over a year-long layoff from the ring, went the distance against Andy Ruiz Jr.

Meanwhile, he also found success in the start and dropped the former world champion with a thunderous hit. While Ruiz Jr. regained his flow in the later stage, choosing his next opponent might be a critical task. Following the win, the 31-year-old has expressed a desire to re-match his former training partner.

However, he has already won the WBA title eliminator contest and is on the brink of attaining a championship shot. Hence, a rematch can endanger his spot for the world title. Nevertheless, a rematch might be the best option available for him.

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What’s next and best for Andy Ruiz?

The current heavyweight unit is blooming with elite contenders and mandatary fighters. Hence, the former unified titlist can go against anyone from the big names. Meanwhile, it can also put him against the ex-WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder. While it would be an alluring matchup, there are a lot more factors that need to be taken into consideration.

In Ruiz Jr’s recent performance, although he was fast-paced, he couldn’t trouble Arreola much. Despite connecting with the best shots, he couldn’t stop ‘The Nightmare’.

Meanwhile, Deontay Wilder’s physical attributes and abilities might be more challenging to deal with. Other than Arreola, Ruiz Jr can look to box against the other interim champions/challengers like Dillian Whyte, Joe Joyce, and Oleksandr Usyk. However, they have been active, and hence ‘Destroyer’ might need more preparation before going against them.

A rematch with Arreola might be the answer. It would give Ruiz Jr. a chance to look back at his game plan. Moreover, he could look to shut his critics by registering a KO.

While heavyweight champions, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua, seem to have locked themselves for a unification fight, Ruiz Jr. will have to wait for his title shot. Hence, he may opt for a matchup to get back into the groove.

Who do you think Andy Ruiz Jr. should fight next?

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