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“I Need to Get Ready”: While Detailing His Shoulder Injury, Andy Ruiz Jr. Lays Out His Game Plan for a Comeback in 2024

Published 12/26/2023, 9:04 AM EST

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Andy Ruiz Jr. is adamant about making a comeback to the ring in 2024. The former unified heavyweight champion has barely fought since his unanimous decision loss at the hands of Anthony Joshua in their rematch in December 2019. While he managed to secure two fights in the following years, winning them, the California native hasn’t produced anything noteworthy.

The ‘Destroyer’ was in talks with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury for a potential fight, but both sides claimed Ruiz had demanded huge sums of money that resulted in the failure of the fights. During last weekend’s ‘Day of Reckoning’ fight card featuring Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua, Ruiz was present in the audience. So, when TNT Sports approached him for an interview, the ‘Destroyer’ went on to speak briefly about his shoulder injury and detailed his plan to come back to the ring!

 Andy Ruiz Jr. claims he needs two more months

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While speaking to TNT Sports, Ruiz suggested that he feels great and would definitely fight in 2024. He went on to claim that he had surgery done to his right shoulder due to an injury, which took up two months of recovery. Moreover, Ruiz thinks he needs two more months before he will be ready for a fight next year. However, Ruiz claims he will have to check his options on who he should fight so he can prepare accordingly.

 

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“I need to get ready. I feel really good. In 2024, we’re coming back. I had surgery on my right shoulder, so I already had two months preparing and recovering. I need two more months, and I’ll be ready to go next year. I need to check out all the opponents and need to get ready. In 2024 is when it’s going to go down,” Ruiz told TNT Sports. However, that wasn’t the end of what Ruiz said during the ‘Day of Reckoning’ event!

Ruiz claims Otto Wallin didn’t have a lot of skills

After ‘AJ’ defeated Otto Walin via technical knockout in the fifth round of their fight in Kingdom Arena, Saudi Arabia, Fight Hub TV questioned Ruiz about his thoughts. Having fought Joshua twice and defeating him once, Ruiz had an answer ready to go! The American heavyweight claimed Wallin did not have very many skills.

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“There’s nothing really to make about it. I think he [AJ] did what he had to do. His opponent [Wallin] didn’t really have a lot of skills,” said Ruiz. He went on to suggest that Wallin lacked a game plan, emphasizing the importance of a plan while fighting someone like Joshua. Later in the interview, Ruiz stated, “I wish it was somebody with more skills, somebody that wants to win the fight and wants to throw punches like me.”  

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Having not entered the ring since September 2022 against Luis Ortiz, Ruiz Jr. is eager to get back in the ring in 2024. However, as he claimed, his shoulder surgery may force him to take a bit more time. Until then, we would like to get your thoughts on the matter – are you waiting for Ruiz’s comeback? Who would you like to see him fight next? Tell us in the comments below.

Watch This Story: The Deontay Wilder Andy Ruiz Beef

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Written by:

Sudeep Sinha

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One take at a time

The first time boxing captured my attention, it was because of a line I heard in the film 'Rocky Balboa', a film surrounding boxing. The line went like this, "But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
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Gokul Pillai