Andy Ruiz Jr. and Jarrell Miller caused a stir during fight week in Los Angeles after both lost considerable pounds and re-shaped their bodies.
The heavyweight contenders will face off on Saturday night at Riyadh Season’s United States debut. Both have had weight issues in the past. At a photoshoot to promote the event, the pair went shirtless and revealed weeks of hard work ahead of their encounter.
Ruiz has been as high as 283 pounds in recent fights, with Miller maxing out at a massive 341 pounds. The top division punchers are expected to be at least fifteen or twenty pounds under those benchmarks at Friday’s weigh-in.
Fight week is in full swing, with Ruiz and Miller going head-to-head at Tuesday’s grand arrivals and going through an intense staredown for the fans and media.
Ruiz vs Miller staredown.
🎥 @MatchroomBoxing#RuizMillerpic.twitter.com/C7t1k0TZHy
— World Boxing News (@WorldBoxingNews) July 31, 2024
Meanwhile, Ruiz and Miller will put friendship aside to trade blows for a potential heavyweight title shot at BMO Stadium.
Ahead of the battle, Ruiz said, “I feel really good. I feel sharp. We did all the hard work in the gym. Yes, I had a two-year layoff, but that doesn’t mean I was outside of the gym. I was still training. I was still disciplined.
“Even through my ups and downs, God was with me, and that’s why we are going to win on Saturday night.”
Miller stated, “This is the opportunity to get back what I’ve lost. Eddie [Hearn] and I have a bromance hell or behave relationship. But that’s life. You become a man. Have a conversation, sort things out, move on, and move forward.”
Crawford vs. Madrimov full card info
Ruiz vs. Miller is part of a blockbuster Los Angeles Riyadh Season Card this weekend topped by the unmissable WBA and WBO interim Super-Welterweight World Title clash between pound-for-pound number one Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) and reigning champion Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs). In addition, Mexico’s Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs) defends his WBA Super-Lightweight World Title against Jose Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs). Undefeated Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs) collides with Martin Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs) in an explosive NABF and WBO International Titles match-up.
Cuba’s David Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs) defends his WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title against Radivoje’ Hot Rod’ Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KOs). Meanwhile, Olympic Lightweight Champion Andy Cruz (3-0, 1 KO) continues his 135lbs campaign when he takes on Mexico’s Antonio Moran (30-6-1, 21 KOs) with the IBF International and WBA Continental Latin-American Titles on the line.
Furthermore, unbeaten Super-Middleweights Steve Nelson (19-0, 15 KOs) and Marcos Ramon Vazquez (20-0-1, 10 KOs) meet over ten rounds. Finally, Saudi Arabian Welterweight talent Ziyad Almaayouf (5-0, 1 KO) fights in the US for the first time against Poland’s Michal Bulik (6-7, 2 KOs).
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
