SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. is ready to reset his life and revive his career when he faces Jarrell Miller on Aug. 3 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
“The Destroyer” Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) last fought in September 2022, defeating Luis Ortiz twice to win a unanimous decision. Ruiz, who turns 35 in September, has long been far from the prime of his career, having fought just twice since the end of his 2019 sequel against Anthony Joshua.
Since beating Ortiz, Ruiz publicly announced his tabloid-worthy separation from his partner and underwent rotator cuff surgery last November, giving him lucrative opportunities against the likes of Deontay Wilder. Slipping through my fingers The remaining divisions were intensifying in Saudi Arabia.
Lewis, a promotional free agent and currently pregnant with her fifth child, has teamed up with boxing powerbroker Sean Gibbons and is adamant she is ready to bounce back and return to the heavyweight arena with another title shot in the cards.
“It's really exciting to be back,” Lewis said Wednesday during a workout in Los Angeles. “I know it's been a long time, but things happen for a reason and here we are now and I'm just excited to continue my mission and continue on my path.”
“I have to carry on my legacy. I made history with the Joshua fight. I made mistakes. I learned through the ups and downs and the rollercoaster of life. I feel like now is also a time of redemption. I am very motivated and excited. The most important thing is that I am hungry. I am hungry to succeed and to become a two-time heavyweight champion.”
The enigmatic Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs) is looking to get his career back on track after suffering the first defeat of his career. illegal“Big Baby” was arrested in January and charged with auto burglary and theft with assault or bodily injury just days after losing to Daniel Dubois by stoppage in the final seconds of a 10-round bout in December.
Ruiz and Miller will forever be linked beyond their upcoming bout. In 2019, Miller was scheduled to face Joshua but tested positive for a banned substance, paving the way for Ruiz to step in as a replacement opponent and surprise the Briton with the heavyweight title on the line.
“I've always had a lot of respect for him, I have nothing bad to say about him,” Lewis said of how Miller's misstep led to an opportunity that changed his life. “We're good friends outside the ring, but in the ring it's completely different. We're going to flip a switch, because we both want to be world champions.”
“He's big, powerful and packs some heavy punches, but I think my explosiveness, combinations and speed will help me win the fight.”
Gibbons told BoxingScene that a win against Miller would see Lewis face Joseph Parker, Jirey Can or Agit Kabayel on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch in Saudi Arabia on December 21.
“I want to train hard and stay busy. I don't want to go to a match and then not see you for two years and then people say, 'What happened to Andy?' I want to be here for a long time.
“It's an open weight class right now. Heavyweights are popping up all the time. But right now, the star is Jarrell Miller. He's got to pass this test and come out with a win.”
Lewis vs. Miller will take place on the undercard of Riyadh Season's inaugural U.S. event, headlined by junior middleweight bouts Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov. The card will be streamed by DAZN, ESPN and PPV.com.
