Andy Ruiz has revealed he has been cleared to fight again after suffering a nasty injury in his draw with Jarrell Miller.
Ruiz put in a lacklustre display and drew with Miller in an August showdown, which failed to live up to the imagination.
The decision to award a draw was seen as perhaps fortunate for the Mexican, with many from the boxing world believing that Miller did enough good work to have his hand raised.
At the conclusion of the bout, Ruiz hauled off his gloves and showed the camera a severely swollen hand which he would need to get examined.
After receiving treatment he was forced to take an extended lay-off from the ring again, having suffered damage to his carpometacarpal (CMC) joint at the end of his thumb.
It would likely take months to a year for a recovery according to medical experts.
But after just five months out, Ruiz has now given a positive outlook on his 2025 inside the squared circle.
He posted a video of himself shirtless showing off his current shape, with the caption: “Just got the green light from the doctor.
“Let’s go I’m ready to fight, who should I fight next year?”
Ruiz looked in far from his best shape in the fight, stepping on the scales at his heaviest weight since losing his sequel with Anthony Joshua.
And the Mexican’s peak performance was nowhere in sight as he looked fatigued and failed to outbox Miller who took control of several chunks of the contest.
It has been a difficult period for Ruiz since that rematch, having fought just three times since.
Instagram – Andy RuizRuiz is set to return imminently after his injury healed up[/caption]
Ruiz rallied from the canvas to beat Chris Arreola in a comeback fight in 2021.
He also fought an ageing Luis Ortiz and comfortably beat him one year later in September 2022.
But his August 2024 tilt with Miller ended another lengthy period out of the ring, and he will need far more activity to work a way back into the world title mix.
Despite some calls for a rematch, it is understood that plans are now off the table for the pair to meet again.
It is unclear if Ruiz has any more opportunities available in the current heavyweight landscape plotted out by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh.
But ex-coach Manny Robles suggested that ‘The Destroyer’ should be working his hardest to manoeuvre his way back to the pinnacle of the division.
“I think he would fight in this Saudi Arabia world title mix,” Robles said. “But where is Andy? That is the question.
“I haven’t spoken to him or seen him in years. I have no idea what Andy is up to in all honesty.
“But he should come back and take advantage of this opportunity that has been given to all the heavyweight fighters.
“The opportunity to fight in Saudi Arabia and get in the mix, all these great heavyweight champions fighting each other.
“A loss should not determine the career of a fighter, I don’t think he should be judged by that defeat.”
