Andy Ruiz has offered to step in and face Jake Paul after his planned fight with Canelo Alvarez collapsed.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul fought and defeated heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in a historic event last November, and was eyeing yet another big outing.
Paul incredibly looked to have agreed a deal to face current pound-for-pound great and 168lbs world champion Alvarez in May.
The fight was closing in on an announcement, but the deal was scuppered by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh.
He intervened and drew Alvarez into a stunning four-fight deal, which will include a showdown with Terence Crawford in September, a fight which is now back on.
Paul as a result has missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime, and will now need to find a new opponent for his return in 2025.
Prior to his planned bout with WBC, WBA and WBO super-middleweight champion Alvarez, Paul was inundated with offers including from the boxing world such as IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.
But he has now received a new offer from former unified heavyweight world champion Ruiz.
Ruiz commented on one of Paul’s recent posts, replying: “I’m down to fight my brother. Let me know.
“It would be an honour for my fans and my Mexican people.”
It could be another Mexican for Paul if he accepts the offer from the high-profile heavyweight.
Ruiz produced one of the biggest upsets ever after flattening Anthony Joshua in 2019 at Madison Square Garden.
Unfortunately he lost the belts in a subsequent rematch, and has fought just three times since.
Ruiz has recently returned to training, having injured his hand in his September draw with Jarrell Miller.
Paul recently made his debut at heavyweight, and would certainly fancy his chances of an incredible upset, given the Mexican looks far from in his best shape.
There would likely not be the needle that Paul shares with Alvarez, given he has regularly called for a shot at beating the Mexican.
Ruiz would certainly be a huge favourite to beat the ‘Problem Child’ who has fought only Tommy Fury as a boxer in his physical prime.
But the Mexican previously piled praise on the influencer-boxer, insisting he could achieve great things in the squared circle in the future.
“A lot of people underestimate Jake Paul as well just like how they did to me,” he said.
“I think he has good fundamentals. He learns fast and I think he gonna be a hell of a fighter.
“A lot of people talk s*** and all that, but at least he has the balls to go inside that ring because so many people lost their lives getting inside that ring.”
