
A peak at a picture of Andy Ruiz usually conjures up one word.
It starts with an F.
Itâs not fantasticâor fabulous.
You know where Iâm going here, but letâs stay positive.
Fast is the word. Then attach hands.
Former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz has very fast hands â especially for an extra-heavy-heavyweight.
Just ask Anthony Joshua.
Five years ago, big-time favorite Joshua was having his way against Ruiz, a late replacement for Jarrel Miller, who Ruiz is fighting Aug 3rd in Los Angeles.
Things abruptly changed in round three after Joshua floored Ruiz with a howitzer right hand. Both fighters looked surprised. Joshua even more because Ruiz got up and fought back.
Remember those fast hands? Ruiz snuck in a counter temple shot that caused Joshua to stumble to the canvas. Joshua was down again later in the round. He got up and made it till round seven when Ruiz let fly. Joshua went down twice more. The fight was over. âRockyâ Ruiz had done it.
He didnât hold the title long. Six months. Joshua won the rematch by outboxing a blubbery Ruiz.
Regrets.
“Thatâs something that makes me to cry,â Ruiz told boxing-social.com last year. âIn the rematch with me and Anthony Joshua because I didnât do nothing right. I didnât train. I didnât do nothing.â
Ruiz has fought twice since the rematch loss to Joshua. He won both times, but it wasnât easy. He defeated Chris Arreola but was down in round two. A year later he fought big Cuban Luis Ortiz. Those quick hands floored Ortiz three times, but he couldnât keep him there.
Miller, another weight-challenged heavyweight, lost for the first time against Daniel Dubois last year. Miller and Ruiz are good friends outside of the ring. The gregarious Brooklynite called his fight with Ruiz, âThe battle of fast food.â
Promoter Eddie Hearn feels Miller, known as Big Baby, will be ready for Ruiz.
âHeâs back now, fought Dubois, got beat,â Hearn said to www.secondsout.com last month. âI think heâll be fitter this time, but itâs a tough fight. Ruiz has been out for what, 18 months? Youâve got to stick it on him.
Hall of Famer Timothy Bradley had some harsh words for Miller recently.
“Millerâs fat and lazy, man. Come on, he lost to Dubois bro,â said Bradley on Pro Box TV. âIf Ruiz donât slap him around and beat the crap out of him and damn near stop him. And I know heâs been inactive or whatever, but heâs just the better-skilled fighter here, added Bradley.
“Those quick hands and that power that he possesses, he knows how to get himself into position to be able to land. Miller is what he is. Heâs just a guy in there.”
If Miller (26-1,22 KOs) needed any motivation, Bradley’s assessment should inspire him. He hasn’t weighed less than 300 pounds for a fight in seven years.
âIâm sure after I get that victory me and him (Miller) are gonna go share a burger,â said Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) when speaking to The RingTV.com.
Cheers men.

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