Boxing

WHY Andy Ruiz Jr comes in at heaviest weight since Anthony Joshua rematch but is still over two stone lighter than Jarrell Miller

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Andy Ruiz Jr has put on 5.4lbs since his last outing.

The former unified heavyweight world champion returns to the ring on Saturday night after a two-year hiatus to face  on the  vs Israil Madrimov undercard.

Last time out, he defeated  via unanimous decision in a WBC eliminator bout in September 2022 after weighing in at 268.8lbs (19.2 stone).

Ahead of his upcoming clash with Miller, Ruiz Jr has tipped the scales at 274.4lbs (19.6 stone) during a behind-closed-doors weigh-in.

Miller is over two stone heavier at 305.6lbs (21.8 stone)

For Miller, it is his lightest weight since 2018 and a 27.4lbs drop from his last fight against

Meanwhile, Ruiz Jr’s weight is his heaviest since his rematch with  in December 2019.

Ruiz Jr shocked the world in June 2019 when he knocked out Joshua to become  world champion in their inaugural encounter.

For the first fight, Ruiz Jr was 268lbs (19.1 stone) but when he ran it back with AJ six months later he was a whopping 283.5lbs (20.2 stone).

The stocky puncher blamed the 15lbs weight gain on ‘partying too much’ after winning the world titles and looked extremely sluggish as he laboured to a wide unanimous decision loss.

He will have to put on a far better display against Miller at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium if he hopes to return to the upper echelons of the heavyweight division.

Elsewhere on the bill, Crawford and Madrimov made championship weight for their WBA super-welterweight showdown.

Crawford came in at 153.4lbs (10.9 stone) while the Uzbek weighed in at 154lbs (11 stone).

Isaac Cruz and Jose Valenzuela’s WBA super lightweight title fight will also go ahead with the champion making 140lbs (10 stone) and the challenger stepping on the scales at 139.8lbs (9.9 stone).

In the other heavyweight bout, Martin Bakole was 284.4lbs (20.3 stone) while Jared Anderson was 252.4lbs (18 stone).

The rest of the reported main card weights can be found above.

WHY Andy Ruiz Jr comes in at heaviest weight since Anthony Joshua rematch but is still over two stone lighter than Jarrell Miller

All of the results were made official in the early hours of Saturday morning (UK time) at the ceremonial weigh-in.

Ruiz Jr said: “I feel like I’m in my prime right now. After all the ups and downs that I’ve been through, I feel like this is my moment, and we die inside that ring.

“We got to work really hard. He wants to be a champion, and I want to be a champion again. The best man wins on Saturday.”

Miller is hoping to replicate Ruiz Jr and move himself into a position to fight for a world title.

The American said: “He knows what it feels like to have his hand raised and get a championship belt. I don’t know yet.

“So, I’m still seeking that thrill. I’m still seeking that feeling, and the hunger inside of me is even stronger now.

“I’m 35-years old. It’s do or die.”

 

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