Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, president of the World Boxing Association (WBA), conducted an interview with former heavyweight champion and boxing star Andy Ruiz. Nearly 1,000 people logged in through the president’s Instagram Live, @GilberticoWBA, to watch the interview with “The Destroyer” who, among other things, noted that he wants to join Chepo and Eddy Reynoso’s team.
As it is well known, Ruiz is looking for a new trainer to face this new phase of his career and he assured that there have been approaches so that Canelo’s trainers can be in his corner.
“We’re talking to the Reynoso team and I think it’d be good for me. Right now, there is no contract signed but I’d like to go with Team Canelo,” said the American native with Mexican roots.
Ruiz talked about what he hopes for his future and said he wants to take it one step at a time, make a comeback fight and then think about names like Luis “King Kong” Ortiz, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury or his longed-for rematch with Joshua.
Ruiz’ global fame came from his unexpected win last year against Joshua. The legacy ruined the Briton’s U.S. debut and he won the WBA Super Championship in addition to the IBF and WBO belts.
“I was thinking that was my chance for the world series because I lost the first one (to Parker). I was training hard and focused on winning. My whole family was praying for a chance and it came,” he said.
Two moments before that fight were very important. One was the rumor that Ruiz had contacted Eddie Hearn through Instagram to ask him for a chance to face Joshua, a fact that Ruiz confirmed to Mendoza while laughing. Another fact they talked about was the moment after the weigh-in when he borrowed Joshua’s belts.
“I remember when your father, you and I were talking. At that time everyone was with Joshua and he came over and let you borrow his belts,” Mendoza recalled, and Ruiz replied: “I told him that they looked very nice and he asked me if I wanted to see them. When I had them all in my hand I asked God to help me win, and in the end what I wished happened.”
With the victory came recognition, fame and everything else. There were positive things like the opportunity to meet with the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador, another significant event in which Ruiz was accompanied by Mendoza.
“I was proud of that. I didn’t even believe it until they told me I was going to fly to Mexico City. I was able to meet him, proud to see great friends like Miguel Torruco, who called me and was the link to meet the President,” said Ruiz.
However, that same fame brought about negative things that Ruiz is now aware of. He accepted that he didn’t train well and didn’t get to 100 percent for his second fight against Joshua in December, and it cost him a lot.
“I was too fat to chase him and look for combinations. I didn’t throw my punches right,” he said.
But he knows that he can get back on his feet in a short time and that’s why he works both physically and mentally: “I think I have to focus on myself. It was never like the first time. There are a lot of opportunities, but I have to focus and think that I can be a champion again.”
Took a good beatdown from AJ, you’re going to have to put in a lot of work, rededicate yourself and hope for the best. I do hope you are not a one-hit wonder.
His trainer was a good one and had him looking sharp.
It’s not his trainers fault that Ruiz slacked off and hit the club and the all you can eat bar and won some carnitas eating contests between fights.
You know Andy, you can bring to life Emanuel Steward, Eddie Futch, Cus D’Amato, Angelo Dundee and have Nacho Beristain also, and still its not gonna work if you keep the mentality of 25% soft training and 75% of heavy eating and drinking. Success in boxing is dedication, respect to the ones helping you to get in the best condition possible, discipline in and out of the gym, and commitment to get better day by day.
Sadly, you haven’t show none of this lately. Try hard, and you will see a big difference
He should go with Richard Simmons
Haha nice!
I don’t think that would be a good idea. Does Andy wanna join Team Canelo cause Canelo is the main draw? I think Andy needs someone else like either a Freddie Roach or even a Joe Goosen. I would love for Andy to train with Roberto Garcia but Roberto would kick Andy’s ass if Andy slacked off. I don’t even think Andy could survive 1 week with Roberto Garcia. I think it’s almost fair to say that Andy is a one hit wonder.
i honestly don’t think he is a one hit wonder, I believe with hard work and his old mental state, he will be back, if not I guess I’ll eat my words
Nobody thought he would be AJ in fight #1 and everybody knew he was going to lose the rematch. The first fight he was already in training. The second fight all we saw was him spending money and at parties. Everybody knew he wasnt training and AJ did the right thing. He ran for 12 rounds and picked Ruiz apart. There was no reason to give Ruiz a chance to land a good shot. Ruiz is right to get a new trainer. His old one did a great job, but all fighters reach a point that they need to learn new things in training. I think its tossing out Ortiz name to just say it. Ortiz is a good boxer with a good chin. Im not sure what Ruiz could do to him.
I don’t think Ruiz deserves a fight against the current top 3 for a while. He let people down. I do think he has put himself in a good position for the tier below though. Fights against Whyte, povetkin, Ortiz, Usyk would all generate a lot of interest. Even fights against Chisora , Helenius, kownacki Breazeale would be very marketable. I would go to see those fights anyway. He just needs to spend a year or two proving to people he is driven
kownacki is the fight I want to see, the fight he needs
It doesn’t matter who trains him if he shows the same lack of dedication for the AJ rematch
Eddy Reynoso would throw Ruiz out of camp the first week. They don’t want a fat lazy slacker like Andy contaminating Canelo’s work ethic.
One thing going for Andy Ruiz is that he is always the underdog in big fights.
Ruiz just needs to get into world class athlete shape/condition. (For once) he knows how to fight. And NO 250lbs in NOT in shape
Cruiserweight Andy Ruiz is GOAT …
You blew your credibility with the second AJ fight. He prepared for a different fight, and you didn’t. Time to go back to your status of several years ago and try to build your way back up. Nobody is going to drop $$ for PPV to see someone who may or may not have trained.
Ruiz, Parker, both young likable good guys, but both are one hit wonders, for different reasons. I hope I’m wrong.
So his trainer is the reason he couldn’t stop eating tacos and drinking coronas.
He may be a nice guy but he’s a con-man. He shows up 30 lbs heavier in the rematch, put in little to no effort in the bout and thinks he can grin his way to a rematch. Fury put on weight in a rematch but he had a plan, while Ruiz just planned to eat.
Ruiz hasn’t earned the right to be there he isnt disciplined and doesn’t deserve to take time away from the other fighter who have earned their spot
Ruiz is looking for the wrong change. His trainer was not the problem. To be heavy champion again, he needs to re-dedicate himself to very hard work and discipline in training. Anything less and he will never regain the heavy weight title.
Ruiz has a weight problem. He can’t weight to eat.