Andy Ruiz Jr is planning to return to the ring in the next five months.
The former unified heavyweight world champion hasn’t stepped foot between the ropes since his disputed majority draw with Jarrell Miller last August.
For the last 12 months, Ruiz Jr has been sidelined by a fractured hand, which he sustained in the early portions of his domestic dust-up with Miller.
However, the Mexican-American has now completed his rehabilitation and is eyeing a return to the ring in late 2025 or early 2026.
“My hands are good, feeling good. Mentally, spiritually, I’m feeling good,” he told a group of reporters on Sunday.
“In September, I’m going to go over there and talk to Turki [Alalshikh] and talk to people who can get me these fights.
“And hopefully, December, January, we should be in there.”
Ruiz Jr’s career has stagnated since he majorly upset the apple cart by knocking out Anthony Joshua in June 2019 for the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles.
Commitment issues saw him turn up 15.5lbs heavier for their rematch six months later as he laboured to a one-sided unanimous decision loss.
Since then, Ruiz Jr has boxed just three times: a pair of wins over Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz respectively, as well as his draw with Miller.
At 35 years old, Ruiz Jr will need to stay active if he hopes to get back to the top of the heavyweight mountain.
The lay of the land in boxing’s glamour division has shifted significantly during his hiatus.
Precocious 20-year-old Moses Itauma is rising through the ranks at a rapid pace, while Agit Kabayel and Joseph Parker are the two in-form heavyweights chasing a date with undisputed heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
Is Andy Ruiz Jr taking this comeback seriously?
Keeping the weight off has often been a problem for Ruiz Jr, but he looked very trim in a recent shirtless snap shared with his 1.8million Instagram followers.
He followed that up with a video of himself hammering the pads with his coach.
Ruiz Jr still looked to have his famous hand speed and impressed fans with the clip.
Whether he can maintain that intensity over 12 rounds is yet to be seen, although it appears he is putting the work in for his comeback.