Andy Ruiz Jr. Has Surgery; Will Return In 2024

In some of the latest boxing news, Andy Ruiz Jr. has confirmed that he will make his return to the boxing ring in 2024.

The former unified heavyweight champion has not fought since he faced Luis Ortiz all the way back in 2022. During the course of that process, Ruiz secured a unanimous-decision win that had put him on the cusp of a title eliminator.

The WBC had ordered the Mexican to face Deontay Wilder, with the winner having the right to fight Tyson Fury for the WBC belt. However, negotiations over purse splits broke down as Ruiz demanded 50-50, while Wilder’s camp offered 70-30.

Thereafter, the WBC scrapped the eliminator as Ruiz was left without a fight. And now the boxer has revealed that he had undergone surgery, without divulging into the specifics of it.

Ruiz’s Injury

Andy Ruiz Jr’s comeback delayed by surgery, out until 2024 https://t.co/K4E6B2PSD9 #Boxing pic.twitter.com/NifEm6yjVH

— Boxing News 24 (@boxingnews24) October 31, 2023

“Hey guys, I just got done working out. Five days out of my surgery, and we’re back in the gym, feeling good, feeling blessed, and I can’t wait to get back in the ring. 2024 is my year, baby, it’s my year. Remember that. I had a little minor setback for a major comeback, and we’re coming, baby. Let’s get it,” Ruiz stated

Despite that optimism, it is difficult to see where Ruiz goes next. A trilogy fight with Anthony Joshua had been talked about. And yet, those reports failed to result in a fight.

Ruiz’s Next Fight

“I’ve been off Instagram for a while, I’ve been on holiday, I’ve been chilling, I’ve been eating, I’ve been doing all sorts of sh!t. But I just wanted to say to everybody that I want to knock out all these motherf—— out and I’m ready to rumble. I’ve not fought since December through no fault of my own. I’ve tried to fight some little midget Usyk and he’s not wanted anything, I’ve tried to fight AJ, he don’t want no smoke.

“I’ve tried to fight everyone. Andy Ruiz Jr has asked for 20 million, silly little b!tch don’t know where he’s got that from. Who’s out there? Who’s available? Zhang, he was a good little fight but Joyce wants his rematch so that’s not happening now. So, I’m looking to fight anybody, any place, anytime, anywhere. I cannot wait to fight Usyk, AJ, whoever is out there, I’m f—— you up because I’m the baddest motherf—– on the planet,” Ruiz Jr. revealed 

Ruiz was alleged to have demanded $20 million to face Tyson Fury, thus pricing himself out of a fight. And until Ruiz gets back into he ring, it remains to be seen if he can hit the heights that had once made him be a unified heavyweight champion.

Regardless of Ruiz’s timeline, the boxer has to decide what is best for his career moving forward. But there is a realisation that the fighter must get on with his career.

And if that does result in the fighter having to face lower-ranked position, then Ruiz may have no alternative. And there is no getting away from that.