Andy Ruiz has become criminally underrated

Let’s not forget that Joshua had beaten:

- Wlad KO11

- Povetkin KO7

- Whyte KO7

- Parker UD12 (who Ruiz had fought to a razor-close MD in New Zealand)

At the time when Ruiz got off the canvas to drop Joshua four times and make him quit in 7. And while GOAT cruiser and southpaw heavyweight Usyk was more consistent and dominant as a pointfighter vs Joshua, he didn’t drop or stop Joshua once over 24 rounds.

Ruiz was a 25/1 underdog facing a 22-0 unified titlist who was effectively billed as a 6’6, 248 lbs, 24/7 athlete version of Mike Tyson. The three Mexican heavyweights who had challenged before Ruiz had a combined record of 0-6 (6 KO defeats) in world title fights. Barring location, everything was against Ruiz in theory but he overcame adversity where others did not and found a way to win decisively.

Ruiz beat Joshua primarily not due to luck but because he’s the better fighter in a slugfest, hence Joshua ran for dear life in the rematch. Ruiz’s fast and accurate counters to the temple (also seen vs Ortiz) would have probably compromised Joshua in the rematch as well had Joshua decided to exchange again. Even when relatively untrained at 284 lbs in the rematch, Ruiz still went 12 rounds and was never in any real trouble.

Whatever is said about Ruiz’s strengths and weaknesses, there are at least two and perhaps three respects where Ruiz is (brace yourself) the best heavyweight champion of all time: ease of underestimation, potential for humiliation and handspeed (Holyfield claimed that Andy had the fastest hands of any fighter he shared a ring with). Late sub Ruiz was grotesquely obese (surpassing Tony Galento as the fattest contender in boxing history), very stubby, lead-footed, seemingly underpowered and not from a nation traditionally associated with heavyweight boxing, with a babyface and a soft, disarming demeanour to boot. So prior to Joshua 1 especially, a big punching favourite was far more likely to fight Ruiz’s fight and trade with him, find himself in big trouble and be overwhelmed by the pressure (psychological as much as physical). June 1st 2019 Ruiz would have been a banana skin opponent for any impetuous heavyweight in history.

 

He's in the same class as the other one-hit wonder fringe contenders who upset a massive favourite to become a titlist/champion. He's certainly underrated at this point. But he's no match for the top 3 (Fury, Usyk, Wilder).

 

The piece isn't about "this time and place" per se. The dominant Ruiz narrative on the forum at this point as I see it is that Ruiz landed a lucky punch vs Joshua, won entirely based on that and there is nothing to recommend him aside from that. That is a p*ss-poor level of analysis in my book.

I also don't believe that most "serious HW boxing fans" thought Ruiz was better than Miller, let alone "far better" (which is really just a Matchroom narrative whether people know it or not). Ruiz was about 4x the underdog Miller was for a start. Miller had also scored an impressive stoppage win over Wach, arguably Wach's first genuine stoppage loss. Ruiz had no stoppage wins of note and the only way A-side Joshua was losing to a fringe contender was by stoppage.

Ruiz has blown hot and cold his whole career, mostly cold. So relatively lacklustre (though winning) performances vs Arreola and Ortiz don't say anything more than the lacklustre winning performances vs Liakhovich, Zumbano Love, Kevin etc. prior to demolishing Joshua.

It's weird to call arguably the biggest upset win in heavyweight history "the worst thing that could happen to Ruiz's career". As it stands Ruiz's career has massively exceeded expectations. How many would have predicted he'd have had this much success when he turned pro, or at any point prior to that fateful day in 2019?

 

Ruiz was looking poor while winning vs the likes of Liakhovich, Zumbano Love and Kevin prior to demolishing Joshua. It's partly what made him so easy to underestimate and such a high pressure opponent when he had Joshua in trouble.

 

I scored Ruiz-Ortiz a draw but Ruiz knew that as the A-side he would get a close decision and managed the fight well in that regard, showing good pacing and IQ against a crafty southpaw. The outboxing style will always be his kryptonite but he capitalised enough in the exchanges to squeak it.

Probably Fury on July 22nd.