“So, I think if he’s smart enough, hungry enough, and has all the vices and devils out of his life, Andy Ruiz has one more chance in this weak era of heavyweights to get back to a title shot,” said Sergio Mora on DAZN.
Chris Mannix questioned that outlook, pointing to Ruiz’s inactivity and uneven performances since regaining his footing after the Joshua rematch.
“I just don’t know what he’s got left in the tank,” said Mannix. “You say he sounds like he’s hungry. We haven’t seen him fight in over two years. You say he has something left. How do you know that? Three fights since 2019. He hasn’t looked great in any of them.
“He gets dropped by Chris Arreola. He beat Luiz Ortiz, who by that time was probably 50.”
Mora defended Ruiz’s recent results before Mannix brought up Ruiz’s disputed majority draw against Jarrell Miller last August.
“He won both of those fights,” said Mora.
“Won both, yes, and probably should have lost to Jarrell Miller,” Mannix replied. “Jarrell Miller dominated the second half of that fight. He probably should have lost that fight. I don’t know, man.”
Mora believes Ruiz’s fast hands, granite chin and experience could still trouble many of today’s heavyweight contenders, particularly those in Europe.
“In this era of British heavyweights, I’m telling you. These British contenders, British European heavyweights. They’re not familiar with that Mexican style,” said Mora. “They’re going to get caught off guard with that handspeed that this man has, experience, and the chin. You hit Andy Ruiz dead in the head and the chin, he’s going to come back stronger. A lot of these guys go down. This guy will get up and knock your lights out.”
Ruiz has fought only three times since losing his unified WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles to Joshua in December 2019. He defeated Chris Arreola in 2021, outpointed Luis Ortiz in 2022 and fought Jarrell Miller to a controversial majority draw in August 2024 before beginning his lengthy layoff. His signing with Matchroom gives him a path back into contention if he can stay active.
Can Andy Ruiz Jr become a 2x World Champion? 👑
The full episode of #TheFighterAndTheWriter with @SIChrisMannix and @TheLatinSnake_ is LIVE now. Watch on https://t.co/FoiaUucI53 📷 @DKSports pic.twitter.com/jtRDUcNy6k
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 10, 2026
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