Andy Ruiz Jr. Is Half the Man He Was

Andy Ruiz Jr. is half the man he was — and that is becoming the whole story of his heavyweight career.

The former unified top division champion posted a fresh image of himself alongside the caption: “We are still working hard and we are still under construction.”

Fans immediately noticed how different Ruiz looked.

Some praised the visible weight loss and encouraged the Mexican-American heavyweight to keep pushing toward another comeback. Others were less convinced, pointing out that Ruiz has spent years rebuilding without ever fully returning to the ring.

“Clocks ticking champ,” one fan wrote.

That response captured the wider feeling surrounding Ruiz better than any training photo could.

Andy Ruiz Jr.

Ruiz has looked slimmer before. Boxing has also heard comeback talk before.

The problem is not whether Ruiz can lose weight. The problem is that the rebuilding never seems to lead anywhere once the cameras disappear.

Since losing his heavyweight titles in the Anthony Joshua rematch, Ruiz has fought just three times in seven years.

Victories over Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz, followed by a draw against Jarrell Miller, represent a painfully thin return for a fighter who once shook the entire sport at Madison Square Garden.

That is why every Ruiz update now arrives with the same reaction: hope mixed with doubt.

Ruiz’s slimmer appearance also sparked fresh Ozempic speculation online, although nothing has been confirmed by the former heavyweight champion.

Whatever the explanation, the bigger issue remains inactivity.

Ruiz underwent hand surgery after injuries suffered in 2024, but two years later there is still no confirmed opponent, no active training camp attached to a fight, and no clear comeback timeline in place.

Still Under Construction

At this stage, the phrase “under construction” may describe Ruiz’s career as much as his physique.

World Boxing News has repeatedly tracked the same cycle. Ruiz gets back into shape, posts motivational messages, hints at renewed focus, and then disappears again without momentum ever reaching the ring.

Even Manny Robles, the trainer who guided Ruiz to the greatest night of his career against Joshua, admitted earlier this year that inconsistency had become the defining frustration of working with him.

Maybe Ruiz is planning one final heavyweight run. Maybe he shocks everyone and shows up chasing a bridgerweight title instead.

Whatever the plan is, the heavyweight division still needs Andy Ruiz Jr. competing rather than rebuilding in public.

Because right now, the fighter who once changed boxing with one night in New York feels trapped between comeback and collapse — permanently stuck under construction.

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.