Time may no longer be on Andy Ruiz Jr.‘s side. Five years ago, emerging from the shadows, he staged one of boxing’s greatest upsets. However, he faded back into relative anonymity for nearly two years. So much has happened in boxing’s preeminent division. It even welcomed its first undisputed champion in 25 years! Lest the last boat sail away, the ‘Destroyer’ decided it was perhaps the right time to make a comeback. It’s time to let the world know that the hands that hammered Anthony Joshua still pack a punch.

On August 3, at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Andy Ruiz Jr. will enter the ring for the 38th time. He will face the hard-hitting Brooklynite Jarrell Miller. Ruiz Jr. fought his last bout in September 2022, scoring a unanimous win over Luis Ortiz. Miller, meanwhile, is coming off his first professional loss inflicted by Daniel Dubois at ‘The Day of Reckoning’ on December 23, last year. Notably, the duo contested on one of the cards of the Terence Crawford–Israil Madrimov headliner. Let’s explore how these heavyweights compare ahead of fight night.

Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller: Head-to-Head

It’s easy to see where both boxers stand in terms of sheer physicality. Against ‘The Destroyer’s 6 feet and 2 inches, or 188 centimeters, frame, Jarrell Miller catches the eye with his 6 feet and 4 inches, or 193 centimeters, height. Then again, the New York resident scales down his Californian opponent in terms of hand reach. Ruiz Jr., who will turn 35 on September 11, has a reach that extends to 74 inches, or 188 centimeters. With 78 inches, or 198 centimeters, ‘Big Baby’ edges the former world champion by 4 inches.

The final weigh-in for the match has yet to happen. Hence, any mention of the two heavyweights’ current weight might prove conjectural. Andy Ruiz Jr.’s last match occurred two years ago. So it will be a pointless exercise to review how much he weighed at the time. For Jarrell Miller, it’s relatively easy. Seven months ago, he reportedly weighed 333 pounds for the Dubois fight.

Out of the 37 fights in which he has participated in his decade-long career, Andy Ruiz Jr. managed to secure 35 wins. 22 of his victories came via knockouts. His two defeats include the 2016 loss to Joseph Parker and the defeat to Anthony Joshua during their 2019 rematch. The ‘Destroyer’s knockout-to-win rate reads 62.86%. At the opposite corner, Jarrell Miller, who turned 36 on July 15, is a known early stoppage specialist who has won roughly 85% of his matches through knockouts. With 28 fight participations, last year’s loss to Dubois remains the sole reversal of his career.

Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller: The Edge

There’s widespread concern about how Andy Ruiz Jr.’s 23-month layoff might affect his performance. One needn’t go far looking for an example. A one-year break wreaked havoc on Deontay Wilder, who couldn’t recover after the loss to Joseph Parker at ‘The Day of Reckoning’. The knockout win over ‘AJ” proved that the first Mexican heavyweight boxer has it in him to fight on a bigger stage and come out victorious.

On the other hand, Miller has stayed active, fighting twice a year since his return in 2022. Although he lost to Dubois, he provided a tough challenge and only faltered with 10 seconds left in the fight. Miller’s ability to endure solid punches and continued activity suggests he could present a potent challenge to Ruiz Jr.

Speaking about Miller’s chances, Eddie Hearn reportedly said, “I actually think this is a really tough fight for Andy Ruiz. It’s going to be all action. Jarrell Miller is always going to be on the front foot; [he] always comes to fight, and Andy is a very sharp counter-puncher as well, but he’s been out of the ring for a long time.”

Citing the kind of support Andy Ruiz Jr. may expect on his home turf, California, he added, “There’s going to be huge support for him in Los Angeles, but he better have hunger in his belly for this fight because otherwise, he’ll get overrun by Jarrell Miller.” However, Ruiz Jr. doesn’t believe the ring rust would cast its overbearing shadow on his performance.

One strategy for the Californian to gain an advantage over his opponent is to either knock him out early or score multiple knockdowns to sway the judges. Conversely, Miller could become more active as the fight progresses. Hence, if Ruiz Jr. doesn’t take his chances, then the ‘Big Baby’ stands a good chance of turning the tables.

Neither fighter is currently ranked among the top 15 by any sanctioning bodies. The fight at BMP Stadium presents a good opportunity for Andy Ruiz Jr. to revitalize his career. But at the same time, a loss might raise questions about his future. On the other hand, a win over a former champion could place Jarrell Miller on the contender list, from where he can steer to the next level. According to ‘bet365’, with -370 odds of winning the fight, Ruiz Jr. edges Miller, whose odds read +270.

Who is your pick for the win between Jarrell Miller and Andy Ruiz Jr.?