Andy Ruiz Jr says he should be Anthony Joshua’s next opponent and has told other potential fighters to “get in line”. Unified heavyweight champion Joshua was due to defend his belts against Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1, but a new opponent must now be found after ‘Big Baby’ failed three drugs tests.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed Luis Ortiz, Michael Hunter and Manuel Charr are in the mix while Trevor Bryan and Agit Kabayel are also being considered as last resorts for the fight in America.
A sixth name has now been added to the list of potential opponents after Ruiz Jr picked up a victory against Alexander Dimitrenko last weekend, taking his record to 32-1-0.
The 29-year-old’s only defeat came against Joseph Parker, who held the WBO belt at the time, and he insists he should be the next in line to take on the undefeated Joshua. Ruiz Jr wrote on social media: “Anthony Joshua, I’m your opponent for June 1.
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I’m here, I’m ready. Sign your portion. It’s been a long time coming. We shoulda met few years ago when I fought for the WBO belt. “Styles make fights, I know my style is one that you haven’t met before.
That WBO belt is actually mine because the whole world knows I beat Parker for it in New Zealand. “I’ve been waiting a long time to get these straps from you. You can hold them for me until June 1. To anybody counting me out already, get in line, I’ve been counted out since I first started fighting. Nothing is stopping me now.”
