Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Chris Arreola - May 1, 2021

[punchoutsb]

What a terrible main event

[Onetimeonly]

I wouldn't cross the road to watch this fight. In his prime Arreola's greatest attribute was his ability to soak up punishment and his prime was a good few years back.

You just have to look at the predictions on this thread and that tells you all you need to know.

Two fat slobs grinding breasts For 36 minutes.

[pound per pound]

Arreola is way past his best. I thought he retired. Guess not, one more big pay check for him.

Ruiz is the sure winner, I don't care what his weight is for this fight, but he should.

[Onetimeonly]

I doubt it's a big paycheck and I doubt Andy shows up. Only certainty to me would be it goes the distance.

[snake33]

This is a good fight for Andy Ruiz Jr. to take at this point in time.

He's looking much slimmer at the moment, but I guess we have to take these photos with a pinch of salt.

Can Ruiz stand up ? That's kind of a prerequisite.

[Controversial]

I have a feeling Ruiz will whip himself into good shape after all the abuse he got

[Onetimeonly]

I have a feeling Ruiz will whip himself into good shape after all the abuse he got

Lol, so he's going to light heavy?

[H8Usernames]

Andy Ruiz received alot of attention in Mexico when he beat AJ, paper, tv meeting the president etc and fighting Chris Arreola is obviously an attempt to drum up more interest in Mexico. Would Andy make more for fighting Ortiz, Povetkin, Bellew, Efe, Hughie? Probably not. I think that it's kind of unfair to expect Andy to be the saviour of the division and to hunt down the most deserving contenders while everyone else plays the money game.

[Thomastearns]

...I think that it's kind of unfair to expect Andy to be the saviour of the division and to hunt down the most deserving contenders while everyone else plays the money game.

The trouble is Andy is talented enough to do just that. He's certainly got the fastest hands of the current crop, and anyone who can back up both Joshua and Parker will always get respect.

So it was a shame that he somehow got overconfident and expected AJ to mix it up again in their rematch.

At this level you can't really have glaring issues with mobilty, so it will be great to see him in fighting shape. A mobile Ruiz could still light up the division.

The Andy Ruiz story is far from over.

[gilgamesh]

...I think that it's kind of unfair to expect Andy to be the saviour of the division and to hunt down the most deserving contenders while everyone else plays the money game.

The trouble is Andy is talented enough to do just that. He's certainly got the fastest hands of the current crop, and anyone who can back up both Joshua and Parker will always get respect.

So it was a shame that he somehow got overconfident and expected AJ to mix it up again in their rematch.

At this level you can't really have glaring issues with mobilty, so it will be great to see him in fighting shape. A mobile Ruiz could still light up the division.

The Andy Ruiz story is far from over.

I mean the Ruiz story ain't over, but the part he'd want anybody to read is.

From here on he's just a Fat guy that got lucky once, and never wins another big fight. He'll beat Arreola, but he won't look impressive doing that even.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Andy Ruiz Says Ring Return Pushed To 2021, Training With Reynoso

Former unified world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz will not return to the ring until 2021, according to the fighter himself.

Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) began training with new head coach Eddy Reynoso on Wednesday in San Diego, California.

The first and only world heavyweight champion that Mexican boxing has produced, recognized that there are not that many options remaining in this year.

"I'm going to be fighting very soon. We're going to train hard, I'm going to fight next year. I'm going to be focused on what I should do, we still don't know who [I'll be fighting], they tell me there are some opponents," Ruiz said.

Ruiz has not fought since he lost a lopsided twelve round unanimous decision last December to Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday, Ruiz arrived at the same gym where Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, Óscar Valdez, Luis Nery, Ryan García, Frank Sánchez and some other fighters train, as they all work with Reynoso.

The idea, said Ruiz, is to start training, lose weight and look for his best form now to return next year, when they already expect people in the arenas.

"I'm going to start with Canelo [today], I'm going to be posting some stuff, it's going to get good, I'm excited," Ruiz added. "I've trained a bit, but I'm going to start [today] with Eddy and everyone there, I can't wait any longer, it's going to be fun. Ryan [Garcia] is there, Oscar Valdez will be there, another fighter who just fought and won [Luis Nery], I'm excited and being part of the Canelo Team," Ruiz said.

Ruiz became IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO world heavyweight champion in June of last year at the legendary Madison Square Garden by knocking out Joshua against all odds.

However, in the rematch he was not as successful and lost, which caused a break with coach Manny Robles. Ruiz's team then approached Reynoso to be the head trainer.

One of the names most discussed to face Ruiz is fellow Mexican heavyweight Chris Arreola.

[Paci]

Nothing against Chris, but it wells like fighting a guy with a name before bigger foes, or getting somebody to just beat the shit out of. Not seeing Chris going the full against Ruiz, but then again might just would like to get them rounds in.

Hope he does something after that fight.

[Enlightened-One]

If Andy Ruiz Jr. can’t be inspired to lose weight and improve his fitness levels working with Eddy Reynoso, whilst training alongside the likes of Canelo, Ryan Garcia, Oscar Valdez, Luis Nery etc., then there’s really no hope for him.

I’ve always rated Andy Ruiz Jr’s pugilistic talents, but I was hugely disappointed about his weight gain for the AJ rematch.

I still think he poses a threat to Wilder and Joshua, as long as he has the hunger, desire and discipline to face those guys at peak form.

I haven’t written him off just yet, but I guess only time will tell if he’s permanently ruined by the millions he earned during both AJ bouts.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Andy Ruiz's New Trainer Very Impressed After First Day, Explains Why

"The most important thing in a first training session is the boy's willingness to start, Andy Ruiz brings a lot of willingness, he wants to continue his career at the level he is at, he's at an important level, he wants to keep learning," Reynoso said.

“We have a good team with Canelo (Alvarez), (Oscar) Valdez, Ryan (García), (Luis) Nery, fighters who are in their moment, and that can help him to push him more to what he wants to achieve in his career.

"We had a good day. We trained for an hour and a half, he did warm-up movements, shadow boxing, we practiced some combinations, we practiced what he wants to work on, what he likes, I think we are going to do good, he adapts quite a bit to the boxing that I like, counter-attack boxing, waist movement, to be counterattacking, feinting, there are many things that I can be contributing and he has the disposition. We are going to make a good team, with the disposition that he brings and with the fighters on the team we can do good things."

[Onetimeonly]

I saw on ESPN he's planning a comeback in 2021.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I saw on ESPN he's planning a comeback in 2021.

Yeh, Ortiz was supposed to be fighting on this card too, he may still.. Who knows..

[Onetimeonly]

I saw on ESPN he's planning a comeback in 2021.

Yeh, Ortiz was supposed to be fighting on this card too, he may still.. Who knows..

I wouldn't be surprised if both of them never fought again

[Ruthless-RKO]

I saw on ESPN he's planning a comeback in 2021.

Yeh, Ortiz was supposed to be fighting on this card too, he may still.. Who knows..

I wouldn't be surprised if both of them never fought again

Should just fight each other.

[Onetimeonly]

Yeh, Ortiz was supposed to be fighting on this card too, he may still.. Who knows..

I wouldn't be surprised if both of them never fought again

Should just fight each other.

Yuck

[Enlightened-One]

I saw on ESPN he's planning a comeback in 2021.

Yeh, Ortiz was supposed to be fighting on this card too, he may still.. Who knows..

He was supposed to face a journeyman called Scott Alexander on the same card, which was announced early last month, but nothing seems confirmed (yet).

[Ruthless-RKO]

I saw on ESPN he's planning a comeback in 2021.

Yeh, Ortiz was supposed to be fighting on this card too, he may still.. Who knows..

He was supposed to face a journeyman called Scott Alexander on the same card, which was announced early last month, but nothing seems confirmed (yet).

Yup

[Enlightened-One]

Yeh, Ortiz was supposed to be fighting on this card too, he may still.. Who knows..

He was supposed to face a journeyman called Scott Alexander on the same card, which was announced early last month, but nothing seems confirmed (yet).

Yup

Fox/PBC still claim they're televising boxing on the 7th November. Perhaps Ortiz will headline the card?

[candyslim]

...I think that it's kind of unfair to expect Andy to be the saviour of the division and to hunt down the most deserving contenders while everyone else plays the money game.

The trouble is Andy is talented enough to do just that. He's certainly got the fastest hands of the current crop, and anyone who can back up both Joshua and Parker will always get respect.

So it was a shame that he somehow got overconfident and expected AJ to mix it up again in their rematch.

At this level you can't really have glaring issues with mobilty, so it will be great to see him in fighting shape. A mobile Ruiz could still light up the division.

The Andy Ruiz story is far from over.

I mean the Ruiz story ain't over, but the part he'd want anybody to read is.

From here on he's just a Fat guy that got lucky once, and never wins another big fight. He'll beat Arreola, but he won't look impressive doing that even.

Andy Ruiz has always been a hungry fighter. Sadly though, he lacks ambition

Joking aside, when he has always struggled to motivate himself to stay in shape, how likely is it he will produce the necessary discipline now can afford as many pairs of silk pajamas as he likes?

[gilgamesh]

The trouble is Andy is talented enough to do just that. He's certainly got the fastest hands of the current crop, and anyone who can back up both Joshua and Parker will always get respect.

So it was a shame that he somehow got overconfident and expected AJ to mix it up again in their rematch.

At this level you can't really have glaring issues with mobilty, so it will be great to see him in fighting shape. A mobile Ruiz could still light up the division.

The Andy Ruiz story is far from over.

I mean the Ruiz story ain't over, but the part he'd want anybody to read is.

From here on he's just a Fat guy that got lucky once, and never wins another big fight. He'll beat Arreola, but he won't look impressive doing that even.

Andy Ruiz has always been a hungry fighter. Sadly though, he lacks ambition

Joking aside, when he has always struggled to motivate himself to stay in shape, how likely is it he will produce the necessary discipline now can afford as many pairs of silk pajamas as he likes?

Practically zero. He couldn't get motivated for a rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship. Where winning would've subjected him to multi millions more dollars, and he's gonna get motivated now that he's lost that chance?

I mean, I guess it could happen, but I certainly wouldn't count on it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Andy Ruiz Jr to fight Chris Arreola next in spring

According to Mike Coppinger, the long-awaited return to the ring for the famous former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr will be coming soon against Chris Arreola in the spring.

You can’t rule out a win for Arreola if he throws over 1,000+ punches as he did in his loss to Adam Kownacki. Ruiz cannot throw that many punches without gassing out badly and turning into fish bait for Arreola.

Fans were hoping that Ruiz would make his ring return against Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz rather than Arreola, as that would be a good test for him to show where he’s at.

Facing Arreola won’t do much for Ruiz’s career to show the fans that he can return to his former glory as the IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion.

But it looks like Ortiz might have been perceived as too much of a threat for Ruiz to be taking on after his many months out of the ring.

At this point in Ruiz’s career, he should be capable of beating better than Arreola, even with him coming off a year and a half layoff. Is Ruiz taking too small of a step?

If he’s going to be using up long periods of time between each fight and facing Arreola-level opposition each time, he could age out and miss his window for big paydays against Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, or Dillian Whyte.

Ruiz, 31, and the former two-time world title challenger Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs) were supposed to fight in 2020 but didn’t occur.

Ruiz Jr (33-2, 22 KOs) has been taking things slowly in losing weight, changing trainers, and preparing to ramp up for a trilogy match against Anthony Joshua.

If Ruiz wants the third fight with AJ, he will need to be a little more active than he’s been since losing the rematch against him in December 2019.

Ruiz can’t afford to let a year and a half go by between each fight if he wants to get another title shot against Joshua or whoever emerges as the undisputed heavyweight champion after AJ faces Tyson Fury twice this year.

Andy Ruiz lost his IBF, WBA, and WBO heavyweight titles to Joshua in a poor performance in their rematch in Saudi Arabia in December 2019.

Ruiz chose to live up, eat and party after he upset Joshua by a seventh-round knockout in their first fight in June 2019.

Rather than work hard to get in shape for the rematch, Ruiz let himself go physically and failed to train hard. As a result, Joshua easily beat Ruiz by a one-sided 12 round decision in their rematch.

But you could tell from watching the fight that Joshua would have been just as beatable as he was in the first fight if Ruiz had come in shape for the contest.

Now trained by Eddy Reynoso, Ruiz Jr has lost a lot of weight and looks like he’s ready to return to top form.

It seems like Ruiz has been posting videos of his workouts forever in the last year, and, surprisingly, he didn’t fight at least once during that time.

Even if Ruiz fought a lower-level fighter, he would have been better off than being inactive.

It won’t be that bad for Ruiz to face Arreola if he plans to return to the ring within four months to meet a top tier heavyweight like Luis Ortiz or the Alexander Povetkin winner vs. Dillian Whyte II rematch.

But if Ruiz will continue to take easy fights for the next two years waiting for Joshua to look his way for a trilogy match, that would be not very reassuring.

If one of the networks are willing to allow Ruiz to fight lower-level opposition repeatedly, that’s on them, but they really need to insist that he face quality fighters.

Ruiz could ultimately hurt his own efforts to get a third fight with Joshua if he chooses to take soft opposition over and over to keep winning long enough to get the trilogy match.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said that he wouldn’t bother to put the third fight together between them unless Ruiz comes back with several wins over quality opposition.

Arreola isn’t a quality opponent at this point in his career, so this fight won’t help Ruiz accomplish his third payday goal against Joshua.