VIDEO: When Andy Ruiz Jr. Went Toe-to-Toe With Legendary Boxer Evander Holyfield

Nicknamed ‘The Destroyer’, Andy Ruiz Jr. has always been under legendary shelters. Starting from his training camps to gym workouts, the Mexican performs alongside several big names, including the likes of Canelo Alvarez and Ryan Garcia.

Meanwhile, Ruiz Jr. was fortunate to spar with heavyweight great Evander Holyfield almost a decade ago. The pair went for a full round sparring and it appeared pretty similar to an actual fight.

Luckily they had headgears on since both the heavyweights landed some pretty big shots during the session. ‘The Destroyer’ was unbeaten at that stage and was regarded as a looming prodigy in the stellar heavyweight division.

While he touched the expectations with a KO win over Anthony Joshua in the future, Andy Ruiz Jr. learned some valuable lessons by dancing around with ‘The Real Deal’. Here’s a glimpse of the sparring session that sent the boxing fans into a frenzy.

Andy Ruiz Jr. and Evander Holyfield- Where do they stand now?

Following the second loss of his pro-career against Joshua in 2019, Ruiz Jr. lost his unified heavyweight titles and has been out of action for more than a year. But he envisions an early return in 2021 and is just one win away from re-entering the title ride.

Starting from Deontay Wilder, Dereck Chisora to Oleksandr Usyk, the heavyweight unit is filled with ruthless A-listers. So, Ruiz Jr. can opt for any big name and return to the ring for his fans.

Meanwhile, Evander Holyfield also wants to return at the age of 58. Following Mike Tyson’s return against Roy Jones Jr, ‘The Real Deal’ wants to have another crack at ‘Iron’ Mike. He posts several training videos on social media and looks sharp in his dotage.

If Tyson agrees to fight him, it will be a friendly end to a rivalry that became vile back in the days. If not, Holyfield can still look for other veterans to stage an epic comeback for his fans.

The exhibition bouts in recent times have resuscitated the fans’ interest in the sport. So, Holyfield’s return can be another legitimate step by boxing administrators to develop the sport.

Are you waiting for Holyfield and Ruiz Jr’s return as eagerly as we are?