Andy Ruiz Jr. is heading to Naked Knuckle Boxing this month to see firsthand the code he might compete sooner or later.
The one Mexican heavyweight champion ever is a particular visitor of Naked Knuckle Combating Championship co-owner Conor McGregor. Ruiz shall be ringside on Saturday, April 26, 2025, on the Palazzo Wanny in Florence.
The principle occasion will see cruiserweight Chris Camozzi and Lorenzo Hunt rematch on BKFC’s Italian debut. Within the co-feature, Rico Franco and Jimmy Sweeney full a welterweight trilogy.
Confirming his presence, Ruiz stated, “Hello everybody, it’s Andy Ruiz Jr. To all my followers, on April 26, I’ll be in Florence, Italy, for the BKFC.
“It’s going to be loopy. It’s going to be numerous adrenaline and numerous pleasure. Get your tickets. Let’s go Conor McGregor!”
BKFC added, “BKFC Italy is blissful to announce that Andy Ruiz Jr. shall be current as a particular visitor in Florence for our BKFC 73 occasion on April twenty sixth.
Purchase your ticket at present and don’t miss the epic occasion of the yr, the place you’ll be able to meet worldwide celebrities and see 24 tremendous fighters stay who will compete for glory.
“Tickets are operating out, hurry up and purchase yours!”
If the press convention was something to go by, it must be fairly an evening for Ruiz to expertise in Florence.
Ruiz making steps in the direction of BKFC will not be a shocking transfer contemplating how the 35-year-old’s boxing profession has unfolded over the previous couple of years.
Since knocking out Anthony Joshua in New York six years in the past, Ruiz has solely competed 4 occasions. He misplaced his titles to Joshua within the rematch six months later and freely admitted hardly coaching as he was too busy celebrating his achievement.
Ruiz returned eighteen months later to defeat Chris Arreola through unanimous resolution earlier than one other prolonged spell out. He then out-pointed Luis Ortiz earlier than one other two-year absence.
Lastly, a draw with Jarrell Miller ended his newest exile at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles final August. Nonetheless, Ruiz is struggling to search out motivation amid affected by accidents.
A transfer to BKFC might be a contemporary method for Ruiz, if McGregor has the capital to safe a deal. Present BKFC heavyweight champion Ben Rothwell can be the apparent goal for Ruiz, who nonetheless harbors ambitions in boxing.
Nonetheless, if the title belts stay out of attain, Ruiz would undoubtedly contemplate a crossover.
Studies of a possible rematch with Jarrell Miller ended this month. ‘The Huge Child’ quelled them by signing a contract to battle in England towards Fabio Wardley this summer season.
Past Miller, there aren’t many choices for Ruiz. A trilogy with Joshua can be one of many standouts, however with AJ ready to see what Tyson Fury is doing along with his profession, ‘The Destroyer’ faces one other ready recreation.
The California native, who’s 35-2-1, 22 KOs, is without doubt one of the unhappy tales of the division. Ruiz is without doubt one of the most gifted heavyweights on the earth, however hasn’t been in a position or prepared to knuckle down and keep energetic.
Excessive-profile fights with Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder fell aside between 2019 and 2022, leaving Ruiz dealing with leftovers that don’t feed his urge for food for important challenges.
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Learn all articles and unique interviews by Phil Jay. Study extra concerning the creator, an skilled boxing author and World Boxing Information Editor since 2010.
