Andy Ruiz explains why he chose Matchroom over Zuffa Boxing
Heavyweight boxer Andy Ruiz joins Ariel in studio to talk about his comeback, his desire to be champion again, signing with Matchroom Boxing, his thoughts on Zuffa Boxing, his reaction to Moses Itauma's loss, his son wanting to pursue boxing as well, releasing a diss track, and more.
Video Transcript
And so then you're a promotional free agent, right?
You're talking to a whole bunch of promoters.
Mm-hmm.
And at one point it seemed like you were going down the Zuhfa Boxing route.
How close were you to signing with Zuhfa Boxing?
We're, we're pretty close.
I, I, I was talking to a lot of different, promoters at that time and, but with Eddie Hearns, I felt like it was more, it was It just felt right.
It felt right.
So- What felt right about it?
I don't know.
The, the plan that he had and, me remembering the opportunity that he gave me, you know?
So I didn't I'm a, feel I'm a loyal, loyal person, so I felt like I was like, "You know what?
He gave me the opportunity.
He helped me become, the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world, and you know what?
I'm gonna, I'm gonna sign with him."
Even though deep down he probably wanted you to lose.
Even, yeah.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Yeah.
But, you know, he still gave you the shot.
He still gave me the shot, and best believe, God willing, I'm gonna be his next superstar.
And, and so just curious, what do you think of Zuhfa Boxing?
It's a, it's a hot topic this year.
I, I think it's good.
I think it, it still needs to grow.
They're doing good things.
They're paying the fighters pretty good.
So I think a- any person that is, that is, building fights and helping the fighters make money and get an opportunity, why not?
I don't have nothing bad to say.
What about them having, you know, this, this idea of getting rid of the belts and having their own belt?
No- Well, that's something that I didn't really like because I wanna get those belts back, you know?
I want to, I want the WBO, I want the, the WBC belt that's, that's missing on my, in my collection and the ring side.
So that's something, that's one of the reasons too why I signed over there with, with- With Matchroom.
Uh-huh.
With Matchroom.
Okay.
