Andy Ruiz Says Jake Paul Has a Better Chance of Beating Anthony Joshua Than Andre Ward

Andy Ruiz believes that Jake Paul stands a better chance of defeating Anthony Joshua than the long-retired 41-year-old Andre Ward.

Even though Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) is a 2004 Olympic gold medalist and former two-division world champion, he was never a big puncher like Paul is now. Ward was more of a fencer-type fighter who did a lot of holding and wrestling with his opponents.

“Everybody wants to fight Anthony Joshua because of the blueprint that he has now,” said Andy Ruiz to Fighthype, reacting to Andre Ward and Jake Paul both wanting to fight Joshua. “I feel like everybody thinks they can beat him.”

A Megafight’s Financial Rewards

It’s not just that everybody thinks they can beat Joshua. It’s the millions they’d get for fighting him. Ruiz should know. He fought Joshua twice, making $10 million from those fights.

The money that Jake Paul and Andre Ward would get fighting AJ would likely be a lot more because there would be a lot more interest than when Ruiz first fought him. Joshua will get a career-high payday against Paul due to his massive following on social media.

“He can’t take hits [shots] no more, but he’s still a dangerous fighter. He’s a heavyweight,” said Ruiz about Joshua. “I don’t know about Andre Ward fighting Anthony Joshua. I think that’s a hard fight. Jake Paul, I think that’s actually a little better.”

Paul’s Power Threatens Anthony Joshua

Ward was never a big puncher during his career at 168 or 175. He’ll be turning 42 in February. He’s too old, small, and inactive for him to stand a better chance of beating Joshua than the 28-year-old Jake. Some of the shots that Paul landed on Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, and Ryan Bourland would face-plant Joshua. The most AJ would have to fear in a fight with Andre Ward is being hugged into submission..

“Shout out to Jake Paul, no one is doing it like him. Probably, because he’s been active, he’s bigger, he’s taller, and he’s a natural heavyweight,” said Ruiz when asked if he gives Paul a better chance of beating Joshua than Andre Ward.

Ruiz is correct about Paul. He’s younger, bigger, and stronger than Ward. He would have an actual chance of beating Joshua. More importantly, he has the following on social media to make a mega-clash with him. Ward wasn’t a big name during his career. If he comes back now, there aren’t enough fans who remember him for a match against Joshua to bring in big numbers on PPV or Netflix.