Andy Ruiz shares his prediction for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk
Former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr (35-2, 22KO) has laid out his prediction ahead of next month’s historic heavyweight title showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk that will crown a first ever four-belt undisputed champion of the division.
34-year-old Ruiz famously pulled off one of the greatest upsets in boxing history when he put an end to both the undefeated record and first reign of the destructive WBA, WBO & IBF champion Anthony Joshua, knocking out the Brit as a late-notice replacement for Jarrell Miller in a dramatic night across the pond.
This crowned Ruiz as the first Mexican heavyweight champion of all-time but his stint at the peak of the division did not last long, losing the belts in a rematch with ‘AJ’ just six months later in December 2019.
Astonishingly, the Californian has fought on just two occasions since, outpointing both fellow MExican-American Chris Arreola and Cuban Luis Ortiz in 2021 and 2022, after inactive years in both 2020 and 2023.
During that time, Joshua has fought seven times, losing the heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk and then failing to win them back in the rematch, allowing Usyk to fight for the undisputed crown, rather than it being up for grabs in a much-desired all-British affair between Joshua and Fury.
Speaking to Boxing News, ‘The Destroyer’ offered his prediction ahead of the historic heavyweight contest and controversially declared that Usyk needs to be careful about being outboxed – a polarising opinion to the wider verdict that ‘The Gypsy King’ should negate the technical skills of the Ukrainian by overpowering him with his physical advantages.
“I think that if Usyk throws combinations, goes inside there and sticks to the game plan, doesn’t let Tyson Fury box him around – uses his jab, uses his distance – I think that Usyk could do good.”
After what will be an almost two-year hiatus, Andy Ruiz is finally set to return to the ring himself following his recently announced appearance on the Madrimov-Crawford undercard on August 3 at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, home of the LA Galaxy soccer team.
It is there where Ruiz will take on loud-mouthed Jarrell Miller, but claimed to expect minimal drama during the build-up.
“We are friends outside of the ring, but inside of the ring it is our business. He is basically going to become my enemy when we are in the ring, we are going to turn on that switch.
“It’s going to be an exciting fight, man, I am going to go in there and do my thing, I’m sure he is going to go out there and do his thing but you better believe that – god willing – we are going to get that victory.”
Meanwhile, Fury-Usyk will go ahead on May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as fans eagerly wait in anticipation of what is sure to be one of the most memorable heavyweight encounters since the turn of the millennium.