By Sean Jones: Paulie Malignaggi says that Andy Ruiz Jr. doesn’t yet fully grasp what he lost out on in his defeat to Anthony Joshua last weekend. According to Malignaggi, Ruiz Jr. (33-2, 22 KOs) is probably happy right now with the $13 million that he got for the rematch with Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) last Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
That’s a lot of money for Andy, and an increase from what he made in the first fight with AJ on June 1 in New York. Ruiz could have put himself in position to get an even purse split with Joshua in a third fight had he beaten him. Regrettably, Ruiz didn’t train properly, as he admits, and he came into the rematch with AJ as big as a house.
Ruiz would have commanded everything if he beat Joshua
“Andy Ruiz proceeds with a $13 million check. I don’t think think his plan ride home is going to be that bad,” said Malignaggi to Fighthype. “He didn’t take too much damage. He lost the fight, but it’s not like, ‘Ah, he’s going to be really hurting tomorrow.’ He’s going to be sore from a 12 round performance.
‘Everytime he feels bad, he’ll look at that check. ‘I’ll be alright.’ So from that perspective, he’s going to be alright, but I do think from a month’s time, when it sinks in, he’s going to kick himself. You were committed to the rematch clause, and the numbers that were mandated to the rematch clause.
“So you weren’t designed to get the lion’s share of the money. But if you got the win today, you take home the belts, and you go back to your stable, and you command everything. All the A-side, and there’s lots of money to be made. You could have defended the heavyweight title in Mexico in a stadium,” said Malignaggi.
Joshua’s purse for the rematch was $75 million vs. the $13 million Ruiz got for the fight. A win for Ruiz would have put him in the enviable position to ask for and receive an equal share of the revenue in a third fight with Joshua. But the way things are now, Ruiz might not ever get another fight with the British heavyweight. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said the Ruiz rematch could happen, but it won’t be next year.
Ruiz can’t afford to lose in 2020
If Ruiz can’t be counted on to train hard for an important fight against Joshua, then how can he be expected to put out effort for a match against a regular contender? He probably can’t. Ruiz not working hard in training camp will spell doom for him when he gets in there with one of the top contenders in the division next year.
Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn will want Ruiz to redeem himself, and show the fans that he’s come back fro his loss. The best way Ruiz can accomplish that is for him to train hard, lose weight, and come back next year and pick up a couple of solid wins over GOOD opposition.
if Ruiz comes into his fights in 2020 fat and out of shape, he’ll lose t almost anybody he faces. If Ruiz loses in 2020, that will probably end his chances of fighting Joshua in a third match.
Despite beating Joshua in their first fight last June, Ruiz couldn’t share equally the huge money the rematch made. The reason for that is the rematch clause from the first fight spelled out what Ruiz’s split would be for a second fight. The rematch clause obviousy had Joshua making the lion’s share of the money.
Ruiz could be in a great position right now if won the rematch
“So the sky was the limit. I don’t think that sinks in until a month goes by,” said Malignaggi about Ruiz. “Right now he’s happy with the check, he didn’t get knocked out, and he won the FIRST fight [with Joshua].
“In a month he’s going to realize, not what he has, because what he has was already committed to the check, and the money is in the bank, and he’s made his moves,” said Malignaggi”. He’s going to be thinking about, ‘If I had won that fight, wow, you know how many opportunities would be knocking down my door right now. So I think you got to ask him about it in a month,” said Malignaggi.
The opportunities for big fights for Ruiz would have been endless if he’d beaten Joshua again.
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder would have to be considered the favorite against Ruiz after his performance against Joshua . Ruiz was exposed by Joshua, and Wilder will take advantage of it, especially if he’s badly overweight.
“I think Wilder would be a clear favorite against Ruiz,” said Malignaggi. “He’s more solidified with his own style, and he’d probably beat Ruiz.”
