Andy Ruiz Biography Facts, Childhood, Career, Net Worth, Life

Andy Ruiz Biography Facts, Childhood, Career, Net Worth, Life
Andy Ruiz – Biography, Childhood, Career, Accomplishments & Awards.

Andrés Ponce “Andy” Ruiz Junior (born 11 September 1989) is an American professional boxer who is also of Mexican descent. Andy Ruiz, the underdog who came into the limelight by defeating Anthony Joshua after delivering a technical knockout in the 7th round to Anthony Joshua a boxing Juggernaut who often drew a comparison with the likes of Mohammed Ali and Mike Tyson in the heavyweight division of the sport. With that single victory, Andy Ruiz became the holder of three heavyweight championship titles; the IBO, the IBF and the WBA (Super) heavyweight titles. This article would be shedding more light on Ruiz’s Biography facts, childhood, career, net worth and personal life.

Andy Ruiz Biography Facts, Age, Info

Full Name:Andrés Ponce Ruiz Junior
Nickname:The Destroyer
Born / Age:September 11, 1989 (age 34 years)
Place of Birth:Imperial Valley, California, USA
Nationality:American, Mexican
Height:1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight:119 kg (262 lbs)
Reach:74 in (188 cm)
Education:Imperial High School
Parents:Andrés Ruiz (father)
Spouse:Julie
Children:Richie Ruiz (son);
Andy Ruiz (son);
Beverley Ruiz (daughter);
Bella Ruiz (daughter)
Net Worth:$5 million USD
Occupation:Professional Boxer;
Social Media Personality
Weight/Division:Heavyweight
Boxing Career:2009–date
Zodiac Sign:Virgo
Social Profiles:Instagram, Twitter

Andy Ruiz Childhood & Early Life

Andrés Ponce Ruiz Junior was born on September 11, 1989, in Imperial Valley California. His parents migrated to the United States from Mexico. His father Andrés senior was formerly a construction worker. Ruiz was passionate about baseball until his father made him a boxer. Ruiz explained that he had his very first fight at age 7. Ruiz worked with his father in construction until he decided to become a professional boxer before going back to Mexico to begin his boxing career.

Andy Ruiz’s Amateur Boxing Career

Training under Cuban coach Fernando Ferrer, Ruiz made his professional boxing debut in a match against Miguel Ramirez in Tijuana Mexico, winning the fight with a first-round knockout, before returning to the same venue 3 months later in another match against Ross Brantley which he also won via technical knockout after knocking Brantley down 3 times in the 1st round. His first fight in America came in the month of March 2010 at the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine, Texas. Ruiz knocked out his opponent Luke Vaughn in the first round. Ruiz had an amazing amateur career with a 105 – 5 boxing record winning 2 gold medals in the Mexican junior Olympics and a Ringside world title championship. He represented Mexico in the Beijing Olympics of 2008 but lost the 1st and 2nd qualifiers.

Andy Ruiz Professional Boxing Career

On the 27th of July 2013, Ruiz was in the Cotai Arena in Macau to challenge for the vacant WBO title (intercontinental) in a 10 round fight against the undefeated Joe Hanks, who was aged 30 at the time with 21 – 0 14KOs. Ruiz knocked out Joe Hanks in the 4th round and became the WBO heavyweight Intercontinental champion in the process. 4 months later, he successfully defended his WBO heavyweight title when he defeated Tor Harmer who had (21 – 2, 14KO) at the 3rd round in the same arena while also claiming the NABF Title in the process.

His match against Siarhel Liankhovich a former WBO heavyweight champion who was 38 years old at the time with a 21-6 16KO record was the first time in Ruiz’s career that a bout went as long as 10 rounds, Ruiz won by unanimous decision. It took 9 months for Ruiz to get in the ring again, winning the bout against Joell Godfrey by unanimous decision, before defeating Raphael Zumbano on points.

On 16th July 2016, Ruiz made it 28 wins from 28 fights when he defeated Josh Gormley who had a 22 – 4, 21KO record with a TKO in the 3rd round. By the 10th of September 2016, he made it 29 wins from 29 fights when he fought Franklin Lawrence a 40-year-old with (21 – 2 – 2, 16KO) record. Ruiz won the 10 round match by unanimous decision, thus defending his NABF Title for the 5th time.

Tyson Fury, who was the former heavyweight WBO champion vacated his title, thanks to his cocaine habit and inactivity. After much deliberation, WBO decided to pick two of the top contenders who were willing to challenge for the now vacant title. So Ruiz who was one of the 2 top contenders set out to become the WBO heavyweight champion in New Zealand on the 10th of December 2016. The fight was a close one, but Ruiz lost the match to his opponent Joseph Parker through a majority decision. This became his first loss in 30 fights.
It was well over a year before Andy Ruiz took to the ring again, this time against Devin Vargas. The match which was scheduled to be 8 rounds only lasted for 1 minute, 38 seconds in round 1 when Ruiz dropped him with a heavy right hand and the referee ended the fight. After another 10 round bout with Kevin Johnson which Ruiz won by unanimous decision, he fought Alexander Dimitrenko and won with a 5th round TKO having landed 68 punches to Dimitrenko’s 21.

He got at least $200,000 for that fight, and then called out Adam Kownacki for his next fight. Before the fight with Dimitrenko, Ruiz did put his name to replace Jarell Miller who couldn’t get a license from the Athletic Commission in New York because he failed 3 different performance-enhancing drugs tests. This became an opportunity for Ruiz to challenge the then champion Anthony Joshua (22 – 0, 21KO) for the IBF/IBO/WBO/WBO (Super) unified titles. After several deliberations, Ruiz was finally selected to fight Joshua 1 month to the scheduled fight night. On the 1st of June 2019, Ruiz defeated Anthony Joshua via TKO in the 7th Round, striping Joshua off his titles and becoming the unified heavyweight champion, scoring one of the greatest upset in the history of the sport.

Andy Ruiz Professional Boxing Record & Stats

34 Fights33 Wins1 Loss
By Knockout220
By Decision111

Andy Ruiz Net Worth, Endorsements & Salary

As of 2019, Ruiz’s net worth is estimated at $5 million USD. His net worth is entirely from his boxing earnings. His total career earnings are reportedly capped at $8 million. His salary is currently $500,000.

Andy Ruiz Family & Personal Life

Not much is known about Ruiz’s personal life, but he is married to his beautiful wife, Julie and together, they have 4 children Richie, Andy, Beverly, and Bella Ruiz.

He currently resides in Imperial, California where he was born and brought up.

SEE ALSO: Top-10 Greatest Boxers Of All-Time


Facts Check

At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy.

If you have concerns about something that doesn’t look right in this Andy Ruiz Biography Facts, Childhood, Career, Net Worth, Life, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

One Response

  1. Tom November 21, 2019

Leave a Reply