By Declan Taylor
Heavyweights Andy Ruiz and Jarrell Miller will clash in an intriguing encounter on the undercard of Terence Crawford at Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles on Saturday. Given how little we’ve seen of these two fighters over the past few years, it’s hard to predict, but there are paths to victory for both men. Here, we take a look at the key factors in this fight.
ANDY RUIZ JR – THE KEY TO VICTORY
EXPERIENCE
You can’t buy it. Despite his strange career since winning the world heavyweight title in 2019, Andy Ruiz has more top-level experience than Jarrell Miller and he will probably know too much on the night. Before his famous back-to-back bouts with Anthony Joshua, Ruiz fought Joseph Parker for the world heavyweight title and came very close to the New Zealander, losing by majority decision for the WBO belt. He has also beaten the likes of Chris Arreola and, most recently, Luis Ortiz. Miller has yet to settle into those circles and was stopped in his step-up fight with Daniel Dubois.
HAND SPEED
Andy Ruiz has good hands for a big man and there is no doubting his speed. Throughout his career, Miller has relied on himself to win against slower opponents but in Ruiz he is facing a man who once had arguably the fastest hands in the division. Whether he has the old magic will not be clear until Saturday night but if he does, he can create quick, sharp combinations that will be a nightmare for Miller.
CHIN
One of the most memorable moments in heavyweight history over the past decade was when Ruiz was knocked out by Anthony Joshua with a two-part uppercut-hook in the third round in New York and then got up at the count of six. He was then almost immediately hit with a right hand by Joshua but stayed on his feet and the rest is history. Ruiz was also knocked down by Chris Arreola but got up to win most of another round in May 2021. This shows that even if Miller created an opening and hurt the Californian, Ruiz still had the beard to hold on and was still strong enough to win.
Chris Farina/Top Rated
JARRELL MILLER – THE KEY TO VICTORY
INERTIA
Considering Miller has only boxed once in 17 months, it seems strange to suggest he’s the one with the momentum here, but it could be a factor. Ruiz hasn’t boxed since September 2022, when he beat Luis Ortiz on points, and that fight itself was his first after a 16-month hiatus.
In fact, he has had three fights since his shock win over Joshua in May 2019 – and one of those was a rematch six months after he was badly beaten. Miller last fought in December, meaning he has less ring rust, which could give him a significant advantage in a fight like this.
SUITABILITY
Again, for a man who weighed in at 333 pounds in his last two fights, it seems a bit of a stretch to suggest that Miller might be the stronger guy here. But if the footage of Miller’s preparation is anything to go by, Big Baby could be in peak condition for this fight with Ruiz. He appears to have shed significant body fat, which has resulted in a faster, more agile, and sharper version of the New Yorker.
With a history of performance-enhancing drug use, this latest transformation has been viewed with skepticism by many, but there’s no suggestion of a failed experiment this time around. Carrying less weight could be the difference between fading or shooting in later rounds.
AMBITIOUS
Ruiz has made no secret of the fact that after beating Joshua and becoming world heavyweight champion, he allowed himself to enjoy the moment – and the money that came with it. That left an overweight Ruiz losing the rematch in a dismal fashion, and it’s unclear whether he’ll have the same hunger now that he’s reached the pinnacle of the sport. Miller, meanwhile, has yet to come close to that kind of fresh air.
Of course, it was he who was supposed to fight Joshua that night in 2019 before a failed drugs test saw Ruiz replaced. Miller will also be well aware that defeat here, after Dubois stopped the fight, could spell the end of his big-time opportunities in the heavyweight division. On Saturday night, the 36-year-old may just want it more than his millionaire opponent.
Esther Lin/Showtime
