What Happened to Andrés Ponce Ruiz Jr.?

Andy Ruiz Jr., known as 'The Destroyer,' rose to international prominence in one of boxing's most significant upsets. Born on September 11, 1989, in Imperial, California, Ruiz Jr. turned professional in 2009. His career trajectory saw him accumulate an impressive record, but it was on June 1, 2019, that he etched his name in history by defeating Anthony Joshua via seventh-round TKO at Madison Square Garden, becoming the first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent and unifying the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles.

The 'why it happened' behind his initial success against Joshua was attributed to his fast hands and relentless pressure, catching an unprepared Joshua off guard. However, the consequences of this sudden fame and wealth became apparent in the immediate rematch on December 7, 2019, in Saudi Arabia. Ruiz Jr. arrived significantly overweight and underprepared, leading to a unanimous decision loss and surrendering his titles back to Joshua. This marked a key turning point, highlighting issues with discipline and conditioning that would plague parts of his subsequent career.

Following the Joshua rematch, Ruiz Jr.'s activity slowed considerably. He returned to the ring on May 1, 2021, securing a unanimous decision victory over Chris Arreola, despite suffering a knockdown. His next significant bout was on September 4, 2022, where he defeated veteran Luis Ortiz by unanimous decision, dropping Ortiz three times in the process. This win was an eliminator for the WBC title, suggesting a path back to championship contention. However, another period of inactivity followed, compounded by a right hand injury sustained in his subsequent fight.

His most recent fight prior to his 2026 comeback was a majority draw against Jarrell Miller on August 3, 2024. This result, coupled with a two-year layoff, raised questions about his future in the sport. As of September 4, 2026, Ruiz Jr. is making a significant comeback, facing Damian Knyba at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. He has reunited with his former trainer Manny Robles, who guided him to his victory over Joshua, and signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing. Ruiz Jr. has reportedly focused on his conditioning, dropping 43 pounds from a high of 300 lbs to weigh in at 254.3 pounds for the Knyba fight, his lowest weight in eight years. He has expressed strong ambitions to become a two-time world champion, particularly with Oleksandr Usyk having vacated belts, creating a more open heavyweight landscape.