Andy Ruiz Jr.’s career has been the ultimate roller-coaster ride, where historical glory was quickly followed by a dark downspin. After shocking the world against Anthony Joshua in 2019, the Mexican-American heavyweight had it all: money, fame, luxury cars, and endless partying. The aftermath is well known: Ruiz openly admitted to “totally forgetting” about the rematch, lost his belts six months later, and spiraled into years of inactivity and personal turmoil.
At his lowest point, Ruiz ballooned to around 300 pounds and opened up about his mental health struggles:
“It got really dark. Really dark. Everybody goes through roller coasters. Everybody has ups and downs in their life, especially when it gets mental as well. Especially when you feel like you’re not good enough…” Ruiz revealed on The Ariel Helwani Show.
A reunion with trainer Manny Robles provided the spark he needed. Heading into his comeback fight against Damian Knyba at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Ruiz dragged himself down to 257 pounds—a massive 43-pound weight loss.
However, shedding weight is only half the battle. Ruiz was in a similar position when he returned at a trim 256 pounds against Chris Arreola in 2021, but failed to stay active or keep the weight off. Sporadic appearances—including a 2024 draw with Jarrell Miller—led to another two-year layoff in the abyss.
This time, there is a concrete blueprint. Promoter Eddie Hearn has mapped out a three-fight rebuild plan:
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Clear the comeback hurdle against Damian Knyba;
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Secure a fight against a top heavyweight contender;
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Complete the story with a trilogy clash against Anthony Joshua.
For the former champion, this marks one final opportunity to bring his remarkable story full circle and prove his crowning moment at Madison Square Garden was no fluke.
