Ruiz Jr. Signs With Matchroom

Andy Ruiz Jr. has a new promotional home and a potential September return date.

Ruiz has signed with Matchroom Boxing, reuniting with the promotional company that was in his corner for the most significant night of his career — the June 2019 upset of Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden that made him the first heavyweight of Mexican descent to hold a unified world title.

The partnership ended when Joshua reclaimed all four belts in their December 2019 rematch in Saudi Arabia. Ruiz has been adrift since. A majority draw with Jarrell Miller two years ago was his last fight. And now he is placing his focus on a fresh start.

"I'm so happy and thankful for signing with Matchroom and taking another step forward to continue my mission and to become a two-time champion of the world for Mexico. I believe everything happens for a season and I'm so grateful God is giving me a second opportunity to do everything right. Sometimes God breaks you to make you a better person and a better fighter. We made history with Matchroom and DAZN and best believe we are going to do it again,” Ruiz

The first fight under the new arrangement could come on September 4 in Newark, New Jersey. The opponent could be Damian Knyba, who entered January's interim WBC title fight against Agit Kabayel with an unbeaten record and was stopped in three rounds.

Ruiz, at his best, still carries the combination of hand speed and power that made him dangerous enough to stop Joshua. Whether that version of him is still accessible at 36, after years of inconsistent activity, is the question that need an answer.