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Andy Ruiz is the latest fighter under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner to declare promotional free agent status.
However, he is not free and clear of PBC despite multiple reports to the contrary.
The former unified heavyweight titlist publicly cleared the air in a largely unprompted statement, though perhaps in response to the claims that he was on the hunt for new representation. Not helping matters any was his own father, Andy Sr., informing ESPN Deportes that he was no longer with PBC when the real story was that the Imperial, California-based boxer no longer has promotional ties with its primary promoter TGB Promotions.
“On behalf of myself and Team Ruiz, we would like to thank TGB Promotions and President Tom Brown for their great support,” Ruiz stated through his verified social media accounts. :My contract with TBG Promotions has come to an end & I will now be moving forward as part of the PBC Family with Al Haymon as my advisor.”
The news comes just days after Ruiz bowed out of a previously discussed interim IBF heavyweight title fight versus Filip Hrgovic less than 24 hours before the ordered bout was due to head to a purse bid hearing. The fight was ordered in January and assigned a 30-day negotiation period, which ended with the two sides nowhere close to reaching a deal.
Ruiz (35-2, 22KOs) remains in line to challenge for the mandatory position in the WBC rankings. The sanctioning body previously confirmed during its convention that he was due to next face fellow former titlist Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42KOs).
Interestingly, Wilder himself went public in clarifying his own promotional free agent status while also confirming that he is still aligned with Haymon and PBC. The former WBC heavyweight titlist is actively fielding site and opponent offers for his next fight, which could potentially land in the Middle East. Wilder confirmed the development during an interview with ESPN’s Crystina Poncher while in Saudi Arabia for the Tommy Fury-Jake Paul fight over the weekend.
Ruiz remains in the running to land the assignment, even if not necessarily as a frontrunner. Regardless, his next move will include the services of Haymon, with whom he joined forces in 2019 after freeing himself from a promotional contract with Top Rank.
The nearly four-year union has produced just five fights, though also a bit of history.
Ruiz became the first and only boxer of Mexican descent to claim a portion of the heavyweight crown following a June 2019 knockout win over Anthony Joshua in New York City. The fight took place just six weeks after his April 2020 PBC debut, and with Tom Brown handling most of the logistical matters for Ruiz despite the fight taking place on a Matchroom Boxing card and which aired on DAZN. Ruiz lost the titles to Joshua in their December 2019 rematch, which aired live on DAZN from Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
Just two fights have followed for Ruiz, both of which headlined Fox Sports Pay-Per-View events and were promoted by TGB Promotions. He recovered from a second-round knockdown to soundly outpoint former title challenger Chris Arreola atop a May 2021 show from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
The fight was followed by a 16-month inactive stretch, due to a combination of physical rehabilitation along with bowing out of a previously agreed upon July 2022 clash with Tyrone Spong that was due to headline a Triller Fight Club PPV from Mexico City. Ruiz was forced to bow out of the show after he was reminded of an existing contract to instead face two-time heavyweight title challenger Luis Ortiz, whom he defeated via unanimous decision last September 4 in Los Angeles.
The win over Ortiz was billed as a WBC semifinal eliminator. Wilder came through on the other side of the bracket following a first-round knockout of Robert Helenius atop an October 15 Fox Sports PPV from Brooklyn, New York. More than four months later, the final eliminator remains in limbo and with both parties declaring themselves free and clear from any promotional ties.
In addition to Wilder, Ruiz has expressed interest in a third fight with Joshua (24-3, 22KOs) and a straightaway shot at lineal/WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 24KOs).
“I am excited to continue pursuing the biggest fights and taking on the top fighters in my division,” stated Ruiz. “Thank you all for your continued support. Can’t wait to see what 2023 brings.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox