Andy Ruiz Jr’s return to the ring following close to two years of inactivity didn’t end the way he had planned.
The one-time unified heavyweight champion of the world staged his comeback in Los Angeles in front of hometown fans against Jarrell Miller, who was coming off the back of a loss to Daniel Dubois late last year.
It was vital for both men to have a good showing should they want to be kept around the lucrative Riyadh Season cards and Ruiz started off looking set to impress, showing flashes of the famous hand speed that shocked Anthony Joshua back in 2019.
‘Big Baby’ Miller from Brooklyn largely did nothing in the beginning, but took advantage as Ruiz appears to gas from the fourth round onwards. Miller upped the ante and started putting in work to the body of the Mexican-American whilst relentlessly walking him down.
Other than some pockets of success for Ruiz from then on, Miller was the busier and more effective boxer. It was a shock then that, when they made it the full ten rounds, the fight was announced as a majority draw with one judge giving it to Miller but the other two unable to split them.
Post-fight Miller said he knew he had won the fight. Ruiz called it ‘a good draw’ and revealed a large lump in his hand that he said he had from the early rounds.
He has now taken to social media to confirm that his injury is to the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint – where the thumb bone connects to the wrist – and suggested that it’s broken. Such an injury would see him unable to use his hand in the gym for around 12 weeks and things would have to build up slowly thereafter.
Alongside a picture of his arm in a splint, Ruiz said:
“Can’t believe I fought through this for six or seven rounds. The hardest thing I ever had to do in my life without giving up. Thank you God.”
More on his recovery is expected soon, but a quick return is off the cards.
