By Sam Volz: Andy Ruiz Jr. urges Tyson Fury not to retire from the sport without fighting him first. Ruiz Jr. wants a chance to capture the WBC heavyweight title that Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) has in his possession, and he’d to miss out on the opportunity.
If Fury chooses to continue fighting, he won’t give the 32-year-old Ruiz a title shot.
The ‘Gypsy King’ would have bigger fish to fry fighting the winner of the Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 rematch for the undisputed championship.
Unfortunately, Ruiz hasn’t done much to earn another title shot since losing his IBF, WBA & WBO belts against Anthony Joshua in December 2019. Ruiz has fought just once in the last 2 1/2 years, beating the shopworn 40-ish Chris Arreola.
Ruiz’s ambition has gone out the door after his fortune soared to $10 million following his two fights against Joshua in 2019. Before making all that money, Ruiz was an active fighter, but he hasn’t done much.
Fury, 33, says he’s retired, but he still hasn’t given up his WBC belt yet. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman believes Fury will fight again.
Ruiz (34-2, 22 KOs) is fighting #8 WBC Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz next, and he hopes that a victory over the former two-time world title challenge will put him in a position to fight for the WBC strap that Fury currently holds.
“Man, I hope he doesn’t retire, and I hope he gives me the opportunity to fight him, Mexico, England, and the United States. It’s going to be a mega-fight if he does,” said Andy Ruiz Jr. to Fighthype in pleading with Tyson Fury not to hang up his gloves before fighting him.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for Tyson Fury. I love him, bro,” continued Ruiz Jr. “Not to retire and give me the opportunity first. We’re both brothers of Christ. I’ve got so much love for him.
“Hopefully,” said Ruiz about him being back in position for a world title shot if he beats Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz in his next fight. “I’m going to become the WBC champion of the world! I’m telling you this right now.”
“That was a hell of a fight. The truth is, I underestimated him,” said Ruiz about his fight against 40-year-old Chris Arreola in May 2021. “I’m sure he was training hard for me, but things happen.
“I know what I didn’t do in preparing for that fight. I think I dropped too much. I focused too much on my weight, trying to look cut up.
“God made me a champion for being chubby & fat, and that’s the same way I’m going to be. That’s the same way I’m going to be champion again; mark my words, baby.
“I’m better when I’m big. I was trying to change something that I’m already good at,” said Ruiz.
