Former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. has signed a multi-year deal with Matchroom Boxing, the promotion announced Wednesday.
Ruiz (35-2-1, 22 KOs) has been relatively inactive since stunning Anthony Joshua in June 2019 to become the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion in boxing history. He has only fought four times since then.
Ruiz's title reign was short-lived after he lost his rematch with Joshua in Dec. 2019 before winning his next two fights against Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz. His last fight was a majority draw with Jarrell Miller in Aug. 2024.
"Once you have everything and lost it all you're going to do whatever it takes to get that back," Ruiz said in a video posted to social media by Matchroom. "And that's why I'm ready to go to war with any other heavyweight out there. I had to be broken to be reborn."
Ruiz, 36, will re-enter the fray at heavyweight with new names atop the division and three of the four belts vacant after Oleksandr Usyk voluntarily relinquished his titles last month.
"I feel right now I'm more strong mentally and physically and I'm more hungry," he said. "I'm better than a lot of these other heavyweights that are out there right now. All the belts that everybody has, I want them. I want them back. I'm motivated, and I'm hungry from all the stuff that I've been through.
"I'm here to make history again."
Matchroom teased that a fight for Ruiz will be announced in the coming days.
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