The comeback-minded Andy Ruiz Jnr would welcome a showdown with heavyweight hotshot Moses Itauma – if he had two fights beforehand to prepare for the streaking star.
The 21-year-old has drawn universal acclaim during his 14-0 (12 KOs) career to such an extent that few heavyweights seem to be willing to take him on. World champion Oleksandr Usyk distanced himself from a bout against the young southpaw and Tyson Fury, a former champion, last weekend insisted he’d have no interest in fighting anyone of that age.
Ruiz, also a former beltholder who in 2019 stunned the world by beating Anthony Joshua, understands the hesitancy to take on who he calls “the most dangerous young fighter”.
“He's a bad man,” Ruiz, 35-2-1 (22 KOs), told casino.org about Itauma. “He's really good. His combinations, his timing, everything, is really good. I think he's a really dangerous fighter to anybody who's trying to get at him right now. I think right now for him he just needs to just keep winning these fights and get his record up.
“He could be a champion for sure in a few years. He's so young right now, so he has a big future ahead of him. I see him as a threat to everybody. So, I feel everybody should be careful with him because he's a dangerous fighter and he goes in there and tries to get everybody out, just like how every fighter should be.”
“But right now, he's a young fighter and he's hungry, so I think a lot of heavyweights should be careful with him.”
Ruiz, now 36 and out of the ring since a 2024 draw with Jarrell Miller, wouldn’t rule out fighting him, however. But he’d need some time to prepare for such a challenge.
“I don't back down from any fight, but I want to be ready to fight,” Ruiz said. “I want to get at least two fights in first. Then if they put me with him, I’ll be ready, and it will be a great fight. When you combine a Mexican fighting style that's about going forward and not being scared of getting hit, with his style, then I think it will make for an interesting fight. So, we'll see if he has it or not.”
“If I'm at 100 per cent, and I'm in shape, I don't think there's anyone that could beat me. I think me and Itauma would go at it though… I'm gonna come in fresh and I'm gonna come in differently than before.”
