Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller’s failed test result for performance-enhancing drugs has permanently connected Ruiz Jr. and Ruiz, giving Ruiz the chance to unseat Miller and win the heavyweight title by defeating Anthony Joshua in 2019.
Now, on August 3 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) and Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs) will square up in the ring as they each face similar issues over their individual futures in the fighting game.
For Imperial, California native Ruiz, 34, the main question is why, after defeating Luis Ortiz in a unanimous decision in September 2022, he would squander almost two years of his best life by being sidelined.
Ruiz’s unwillingness to compete for smaller payouts adds credence to the story that emerged following his dramatic upset of the decade against Joshua at Madison Square Garden.
After just five months or so, Ruiz appeared chubby and out of shape, and Joshua, who is far more athletic, easily won by decision in Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday’s episode of ProBox TV’s “Deep Waters,” seasoned trainer Teddy Atlas remarked, “If [Ruiz] doesn’t have the incentive to better his life after he’s already been down that road, where he’s blown it all, then you’ll never be able to get through to a guy if he doesn’t understand that.”
Ruiz and Miller attended the press conference on Wednesday for the August 3 card, which is the first event in the United States for Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. The main event features Terence Crawford, the three-division champion, vying for a fourth weight-class title against WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov.
Like with Ruiz, Miller raises serious concerns for Atlas, who anticipates being closely monitored for drug use after Miller tested positive for the illegal chemical methylhexaneamine in California in 2014 while competing in the GLORY kickboxing tour.
“Miller was thoroughly outmatched by [heavyweight title candidate Daniel] Dubois in his most recent bout. Whoa! Atlas mentioned Miller’s loss in Saudi Arabia in December of last year.
“I don’t see how Miller can go back [to victory] in the ring, especially past this high level of a fighter, unless Ruiz is pretty much a shadow of himself.”
Miller, who was ultimately discovered to have three prohibited substances in his system prior to the postponed Joshua fight, including HGH and EPO, must respond to pointed inquiries since his lack of self-control has been associated with “the guy who blew the $5 million to fight Joshua,” according to Atlas.
We discuss Ruiz’s weight and lifestyle. Miller weighed more than 300 pounds in Saudi Arabia when I last looked. That wasn’t all that great. Thus, the fight is interesting.
“Those two have a lot to gain. Additionally, both guys need to be hungry—a phrase I hesitate to use since it sounds sarcastic.”
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