Andy Ruiz Jr. reunited with Manny Robles in December. Four months on, the comeback still lacks a clear direction.
Robles, the trainer who guided Ruiz to the biggest night of his career when beating Anthony Joshua in New York, admitted on the 3 Knockdown Rule podcast that working with the former unified heavyweight champion had become a source of frustration.
Reflecting on his time with Ruiz, Robles did not hide the strain it placed on him.
“He put me through a lot of stress, man,” Robles said. “He just didn’t show up, and when he did, he was inconsistent.”
“That’s one thing you can’t be. You’ve got to show up every day. We talked about being a good role model. He wasn’t buying into it. Then I said, ‘Hey, if money’s what you want, then go get that money. Go work hard, train hard, to make that money.’
“But I couldn’t convince him, and I lost. I love Andy. Listen, we had a talk. I root for him. It’s just frustrating.”
Andy Ruiz Jr.
World Boxing News has reported on Andy Ruiz Jr. multiple times over the years, which says plenty about the talent he still possesses. That should be taken as a compliment.
The fact Ruiz reached the summit of the sport only to drift so far from it makes him one of the saddest waste-of-talent stories in modern boxing.
It is a tale of money and status overriding glory. Ruiz is still living off that one unforgettable night at Madison Square Garden instead of pushing to become a two-time heavyweight champion, something many in the sport still believe he had the ability to achieve.
The opportunities were still there for Ruiz long after the Joshua rematch. A trilogy with Joshua would have been one of the most lucrative fights available in the division, but Ruiz was not in the right headspace to capitalize.
Instead, his life outside the ring pulled him further away from the discipline needed inside it.
Ruiz still drops the occasional callout. He still mentions rivals on social media and in interviews often enough to keep his name in the conversation, yet almost nothing ever seems to move beyond talk.
Even a public head-to-head with Deontay Wilder failed to generate real momentum. Tyson Fury was also mentioned this year, but Robles’ words only reinforce the same concern that has followed Ruiz for years.
Manny Robles Reunion
When Ruiz linked back up with his most trusted coach, it should have signaled a serious reset with urgency, structure, and a genuine attempt to climb back into contention.
Four months later, there is still little public evidence of that.
Ruiz has shown visible weight loss in recent months, but the broader picture remains unchanged. There has been no sustained momentum and no real sign that reuniting with Robles has produced the spark many expected.
Images from their gym sessions surfaced only weeks ago, but activity behind closed doors has not yet translated into a fight announcement or clear comeback plan.
For all the talent Ruiz still carries, his comeback continues to feel more like a rumor than a reality.
Robles does not sound like a trainer speaking about a comeback with real momentum. He sounds like a man still trying to reach someone who touched the top and never fully found the drive to chase it again.
Since that night against Joshua, Ruiz has managed only three fights: Chris Arreola, Luis Ortiz, and Jarrell Miller. For someone with his talent and profile, it is a miserable return.
Whether he can still find the motivation at 36 remains to be seen. What is clear is that Andy Ruiz Jr. still has all the tools to be a great, but too often gives the impression of a fighter who reached the pinnacle too early.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
