Andy Ruiz Jr has his opportunity on June 1, but it’s not his first crack at a world title, nor at becoming the first Mexican heavyweight champion in pro boxing.
Ruiz (32-1, 21 KO) looks back on the 2016 fight he had with Joseph Parker for the vacant WBO title, which Joshua now holds, having beaten Parker in March 2018 to add that belt to his IBF and WBA titles.
“He has my belt. When I fought Joseph Parker, it was for the WBO world title, and they robbed my fight going over there to his hometown,” Ruiz said. “Technically, Anthony Joshua has my belt. I’m happy and excited, I want to claim what’s mine.
“This is my chance, this is my opportunity. I’m going to do whatever I can to take that belt back to Mexico and the United States.”
Ruiz spoke a bit more on his fight with Parker, his lone loss.
“They stole my fight,” he insists. “That was my chance to become the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world. I feel they took it away. This time, I’m just gonna let everything go and get what’s mine.”
For what it’s worth, Bad Left Hook scored that fight 114-114 back in 2016, and felt the judges scores (114-114, 115-113, and 115-113) were perfectly fair.