Andy Ruiz Opens Up About Losing to Anthony Joshua

Ruiz was recently interviewed by DAZN’s Off the Cuff. In conversation, he delved into his emotionally draining period after losing his status as the unified heavyweight champion in the rematch with Joshua. “It felt really bad. I couldn’t even go out. I couldn’t even go out to family parties, I felt like I let my family down, I let my fans down, my kids down. Just because of the short period of time of me living the life, instead of focusing on the important stuff, you know. On the mission, on beating this guy up one more time,” he said.

He further stated that he realized that things happen for a reason. And that it was never too late to use one’s mistakes as learning opportunities. Ruiz even credited Joshua for learning from his mistakes and working towards continued victory as a boxer. “It’s never too late, just like how Anthony Joshua lost all those other times. He came back up, he kept fighting, he kept pushing. He kept believing in himself, that’s exactly what I’m doing right now,” he said. Ruiz also mentioned that he was focusing too much on the comments and criticism from people, especially about his weight, following the loss. And this, in turn, prompted him to disappear from the ring for a period of time.

“Can You Outdo Dubois?”

With Ruiz making a comeback, it is certain that he once again wishes to make a name for himself as a formidable pillar in the heavyweight division. Boxing coach Teddy Atlas has just the right game plan for him.

“If Ruiz wants to stand up in this crowd of heavyweights and get noticed, he is challenged with the task of stopping Miller because Dubois did. Can you outdo Dubois?” Atlas said in his podcast The Fight. He continued, “It’s not an easy task. Miller showed an unbelievable chin, great heart, and he can be dangerous too. I like Ruiz. I don’t know if I want to go all the way on a limb and say late-round stoppage. I’m gonna take Ruiz by decision.”