In this interview with our friends at Fight Hub TV, heavyweight contender Andy Ruiz Jr. takes some time to answer questions about his upcoming title shot against Anthony Joshua on June 1. Check out some excerpts of what he had to say below...
Ruiz on how he feels finally landing a fight with Joshua:
“It’s a blessing come true. Thanks to God, everything. It happened for a reason, you know, from what happened to [Jarrell] Miller but, you know, I’m here now. I’m here to shock the world. I’m ready for June 1st and I’m ready to take those belts and I’m ready to make history.”
On what he made of the whole Miller situation:
“You know what, I don’t wanna say nothing bad about Miller. He’s a good guy, he has a good heart, good friend. I know I would want to fight him sometime this year, next year too. But, you know what, things happen. This is boxing, and he’s not the first boxer heavyweight that came out dirty before. Well at least you don’t have to worry about me, that I’m taking any steroids or nothing...I’m kind of happy that happened, if not I wouldn’t have this opportunity.”
On if taking this fight on short notice is an ideal situation considering that he’s just recently coming off a fight and presumably in good shape:
“No, it doesn’t really matter, you know. Like I said, we just came put of an 11-week training camp for Alexander Dimitrenko. I took one week off with the family — doesn’t mean I was doing nothing, I was running, staying busy — and now that we have four weeks [to prepare for this fight] I think it gives me a little upper-vantage, especially that I just fought.”
On if he thinks Joshua poses a bigger threat to him than other top heavyweights like Deontay Wilder:
“Every fighter has their own flaws, you know, but in my eyes I felt that Anthony Joshua had the bigger flaws than Tyson Fury, than Wilder, so this is the reason I was calling him out even before I got the fight. So after when they’re telling me ‘who would you want to fight, Anthony, Wilder, or Tyson Fury?’ I kept saying Anthony Joshua, Anthony Joshua because I believe that the way that he fights, the way that his style, the way he moves, I know that I can get in there and crack him.”
On if he thinks Joshua has a suspect chin:
“Of course. You know, he takes good punches, he got hit by good fighters — Klitschko — and he got dropped and he got up so the guy has heart. Of course he has heart, but I think it’s gonna be a really difficult fight with me because I’m just gonna keep going to him, going to him, even if he hits me. I’ve never been dropped ever in my life - knock on wood I don’t get dropped or nothing. But like I said, it’s gonna be an exciting fight June 1st and I can’t wait.”
On if he’s concerned about Joshua’s height and reach advantages:
“That’s not a problem. You know, all my life I’ve been fighting with big guys because I’m a smaller heavyweight. So all of ‘em are all big but I feel I have the bigger advantage since I’m small, he has to punch low, you know? But as long as I stay low, move my head movement, and be first and throw my combinations I think it’s gonna be hard for him. I think he’s gonna be shocked when we’re in the ring.”
On what he makes of fans discounting his chances based on his physical appearance:
“You know what? It just gives me more motivation, all the guys talking crap. I don’t know if they’re mad ‘cause I’m here, I got the opportunity, but you know what, I don’t have nothing bad to say about anybody. You know, I do my shit-talking inside of the ring with my fists. And like I said, I’m just excited, I’m ready, we’re mentally prepared for the fame that we’re gonna bring in on June 1st.”
On how he is able to perform at a high level while looking like a ‘fat boy’:
“You know what, I think it’s God’s given gift that he gave me. Like I said, a lot of people underestimate me just the way that I look. But as soon as they see me throw punches and especially the guys that I’m fighting, I’m pretty sure they even get more shocked, they’re like ‘man, what the hell? I didn’t think this chubby kid was gonna be like this or like that’ but, you know what, it’s a god-given gift. And yeah, I wanna get chiseled, I wanna look like Anthony Joshua, but, you know, hey, it will come soon. I’m still 29-years-old, I’m still young, I haven’t got hurt, I haven’t got beat up. But I’m just ready for June 1st.”
On if he thinks he’s going to knockout Joshua:
“I do feel that. This is the whole reason I’ve been calling him out and I’ve been saying I want to fight Anthony Joshua, because I think with my style it’s gonna be so hard for him to match it. Yeah, he’s good, he’s big, he’s buff, but I think on June 1st none of that is gonna matter.”
On what it would mean for him to beat the odds and become the first Mexican heavyweight champion:
“It would mean a lot. Not just for me and my family, but for Mexico and to make history. You know, this is not really all about the money, it’s about the legacy and the dream that I always had since I was young, and that’s becoming the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world. And you know what, we’ve been training years and years. My dad’s been helping me since I was six years old, putting me in the gym, when I was playing with my friends telling my to come back home and you know what, it’s finally paying off and I thank him, God, and my whole team.”