Andy Ruiz Jnr, the former heavyweight beltholder who is soon hoping to be on the comeback trail, claims he received a call from Jarrell Miller “three weeks” after he’d squeaked past Kingsley Ibeh only to be told “Big Baby” didn’t want a rematch after all.
Ruiz has been out of action since being held to a 12-round draw by Miller in August 2024. Miller’s only subsequent contest was that 10-round split decision win over Ibeh in January, a bout most noteworthy for Miller removing his own hairpiece after it became dislodged mid-fight.
“I was with my family and we were watching the fight and we were so shocked. We're like, ‘whoa, what the heck just happened?’” Ruiz told Casino.org about the hair-raising incident which soon went viral.
“It didn't even stop him though, he just kept going. He ripped it off and continued to keep fighting. So, that was really good, having that courage. It's an embarrassing moment, but he did what he had to do and he won. So, congratulations to him.
“After that fight, maybe three weeks later, he called me and told me that they're wanting us to fight, but he didn't want to go down that route, and I was like, "all right, well, go your own way and I'm gonna go my own way". I did want to fight. I did want to redeem myself because in that fight so many things happened and he knows that too, he's like, "man, I couldn't even beat Andy with the broken hand, even all the problems that he had.
“So, I'm pretty sure that's what he was thinking. But I want to fight him because I want to redeem myself, because I know I can beat him.”
Ruiz Jnr has struggled for momentum since a career-defining New York victory over Anthony Joshua in June 2019 saw him wear the IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight belts until he lost the rematch, in Saudi Arabia, six months later. Periods of inactivity have blighted his progress since with points wins over veterans Chris Arreola, Luis Ortiz and then the draw with Miller his only action.
Widely expected to be too good for Miller, the 36-year-old Ruiz, 35-2-1 (22 KOs), blamed his mediocre showing on fracturing his hand during the contest.
“It was the hardest fight of my life because it happened in the fifth round, so I had seven more rounds to do the best that I could,” Ruiz said. “And I did have to adapt, I did have to change my style because at first I was fast, I was controlling the pace, with the jabs and combinations. And out of nowhere, I suddenly wasn't throwing. Every time I threw a punch, I felt like a sting, like if I was getting stabbed in my hand. So, I knew there was something wrong.
“I felt suffocated. I was a little scared there because I didn't know what was going on. But thank God, because I was praying and telling Jesus to help me, because I wanted to give up on the night. I was already telling my dad, ‘Dad, I don't think I could do it any more,’ and he was like, ‘we've got three more rounds, you can do it, just move around.’ But it was hard.
“I think it was the willpower in the head, to not give up. But there was a hole in my hand, so I was really shocked and scared. Thank God my hand is fully healed now though. But like I said, with me, and he (God) answered my prayers and he helped me. For me it was a victory because I wanted to give up, but I didn't, and I still got that draw. So, I was really happy.”
