Anthony Joshua conqueror Andy Ruiz Jr warned ‘it’s now or never’ ahead of ring return

Andy Ruiz Jr has reunited with the trainer helped him become the first Mexican world heavyweight champion, but has been told it’s “now or never” to get his career back on track.

World-champion trainer Manny Robles has agreed to once again train Ruiz and, speaking to The Ring, said he wants to get the Mexican back in the ring as soon as he can, as the clock is ticking.

Robles said: “He’s at a stage of his career now where it’s now or never. That’s exactly what I’m going to try to do, give him that push, I’ll set my grounds as I do with everyone, let him know exactly that.

“No excuses, he doesn’t want to waste his time and neither do I. I’ve got to get him to work, back in the ring as soon as possible, and get the ball rolling again.”

Since pulling off one of the biggest upsets in boxing history and knocking out Anthony Joshua on one month’s notice in 2019, Ruiz’s career has been stop-start due to injuries and discipline issues outside the ring.

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Ruiz split with Robles after his rematch defeat by Joshua in 2019 and briefly took up residence at Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s gym before moving on to Alfredo Osuna and having a handful of his family in his corner.

Bouncing around gyms disrupted Ruiz’s career, and he has only fought three times in the last six years, claiming lacklustre decision victories over Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz before a controversial draw against Jarrell Miller, which many believe he was fortunate to get.

Ruiz broke his hand in the fifth round of his fight with Miller and has been rehabilitating the injury in the latest of his career breaks, but now rejoins a prospering Robles, who has a handful of world-title level fighters in his stable.

He oversees WBO super flyweight champion Mizuki Hiruta, WBA interim super middleweight champion Armando Resendiz, Serhii Bohachuk and former two-division champion Oscar Valdez.

On the verge of turning 36, Ruiz will be hoping for one last run at a world title with the man who guided him to the unified titles six years ago.

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