Who is Andy Ruiz Jr: Anthony Joshua’s challenger with nothing to lose and a fear of ‘no one but God’

The father of four, who is vying to become the first Mexican heavyweight champion, insists he is fighting for more than money

Andy Ruiz Jr has seen two of his closest friends killed by the sport which has enveloped his life since he was a ‘chubby’ six-year-old kid, but he is adamant there will be no fear when he steps through the ropes at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

Ruiz hit the jackpot after Jarrell Miller’s drug abuse put paid to his own crack at Anthony Joshua and the three world heavyweight titles the Watford man carries with such pride.

The Mexican-American sent Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn a message via social media, more in hope than expectation, insisting that he should be the man to replace ‘Big Baby’ at the Mecca of boxing this weekend.

And after a series of other big men inexplicably turned down career high paydays and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to face the IBF, WBA and WBO champion, Joshua-Ruiz became the first world heavyweight title fight in history to be arranged through Instagram.

It is a sign of a changing time but Ruiz has an old-school boxing story. Taken to the gym by parents trying to find a way to somehow get a handle on their troublesome and hyperactive son, it was not long before Ruiz began to feel at home. In many Mexican families throughout history, boxing has provided their answer.

“My mum and dad are both Mexican,” says Ruiz. “When I was six I was a hyperactive kid, always breaking things and getting into trouble. My dad thought I had too much energy so he took me to the gym to let off some steam. In my first two weeks I got beat up and told my dad wanted to quit but he told me to stick at it and promised I would be a able to beat them up eventually.

“I had my first amateur fight at seven years old, in San Diego and now I am here. I actually lost that first fight. Because I was a chubby kid I always had to fight older guys. I was seven then, fighting a 12-year-old. There were no seven year olds who weighed as much as me so I was always fighting much older guys. But having those experiences and taking those punches has helped get me here.”

It has been a very different route to the one taken by Joshua, who had never even hit a heavy bag until he first turned up at Finchley ABC as an 18-year-old.

“My experiences from between the ages of six and 29 will mean he faces a completely different ball game when he gets in the ring with me,” Ruiz added. “I don’t think he has ever boxed anyone like me, i might not look the part but I throw combinations and do everything to win.

“I think everyone is underestimating me and I hope he is too. I hope he thinks ‘I am going to beat up this chubby little kid’ but I am here to win. It might look like there’s no pressure on me but there is because I don’t want to let my family or the Mexican people down. I want to come out victorious, I might get tired but I’ll die trying.”

It is interesting that Ruiz, beaten only once in his 33-fight career to date, broaches the subject of ring death as a man touched by exactly that during his time as a boxer. Deontay Wilder drew justified criticism during the build-up to his fight with Dominic Breazeale after once again insisting that he ‘wants’ to kill one of his opponents before his time in the sport is up.

Joshua appears relaxed ahead of his fight vs Ruiz Jr (PA)

But Ruiz has witnessed first hand what happens when fighters who have dedicated their life to the sport end up paying with it. His friend Frankie Leal was just 26 when he died after being knocked out by his compatriot Raul Hirales in a 2013 bout.

That numbing news came a little over a year after another of the faces he grew up boxing alongside, Alejandro Martinez, finally succumbed having spent 37 months in a coma as a result of injuries sustained in a 2009 fight against Juan Alberto Rosas.

Ruiz admits he was left contemplating his own position in the sport as a result of the dual tragedies but eventually concluded that, on the contrary, boxing had already ‘saved’ his life.

“I am mentally and physically prepared and I am willing to die in the ring,” Ruiz added, with no lack of sincerity. “This is what I have been waiting on, all fighters put their lives on the line, I have two friends who have died from this boxing game and it kind of scares me but I feel I was made for this.

“I grew up with those two guys and I felt it could happen to me and I was not sure if I was going to continue. But I think it’s the big Mexican cajones I have, I think I am meant for this. Without boxing I would have probably worked with my dad in construction or been a drug dealer, because of some of the people that were around me, boxing saved my life.”

It too, will make him a rich man. It is understood that Ruiz banked just $30,000 for his fight with Kevin Johnson in Fresno, California in July. Now, 11 months and a series of Instagram messages later, he is expected to earn the best part of $3m for his part in Saturday’s contest.

But the father of four, who is vying to become the first Mexican heavyweight champion ever, insists he is fighting for more than money.

“The money is life-changing but I told Eddie Hearn it was never really about the money,” he said. “It is about the opportunity and making history. I am here to build a legacy where everyone knows my name. God damn I am ready. I am scared of no one except God.”