Andy Ruiz Jr.’s potential blockbuster bout with Deontay Wilder is on hold as the Mexican-American heavyweight has undergone surgery for a torn rotator cuff.
Ruiz shared a surgery video on social media, with the operation conducted by Dr. Steve Mora.
The timing of his comeback is uncertain, but Dr. Mora expressed anticipation to see him back in the ring soon.
“I want to thank God for getting me through another successful surgery and to Dr. Steve Mora,” the boxer wrote to caption the video.
“To all my fans and supporters, thank you for your patience during my recovery. It means a lot to me.
“Remember, this setback is only a minor obstacle on the path to my major comeback.
“Don’t worry, we coming back strong.
“Be patient. This was bothering me for long time, I had to get surgery to perform my best.”
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Will Andy Ruiz Jr. fight Deontay Wilder in the future?
Meanwhile, Wilder‘s trainer, Malik Scott, acknowledged that Ruiz was a likely future opponent.
The surgery adds a temporary setback to Ruiz‘s aspirations for a high-profile clash in the heavyweight division.
“Andy Ruiz, probably at this point, when you are the hardest puncher in the sport’s history, it’s very hard for guys to want to fight you,” he noted when discussing fight options.
“I’m going to say a number. Fighters would rather stay poor than make 4m dollars. That’s a tragedy.
“They’d rather ask for 15m to 20m dollars, knowing it’s not on the table.
“They know this money is not on the table for them, but they’d rather ask for that. It’s insane.”