JRE MMA Show #72 with Andy Ruiz
Joe Rogan (host), Andy Ruiz (guest), Narrator
In this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, featuring Joe Rogan and Andy Ruiz, JRE MMA Show #72 with Andy Ruiz explores andy Ruiz Reveals Rocky-Style Rise To Mexican Heavyweight Glory Andy Ruiz Jr. recounts his rapid ascent from overlooked contender to first-ever Mexican heavyweight boxing champion after upsetting Anthony Joshua on short notice. He details the circumstances around taking the fight, his training approach, and how his fluid, combination-heavy style overwhelmed a favored, more physically imposing opponent. Ruiz discusses the upcoming Joshua rematch, how fame and money have changed his life, and his determination to stay humble, family-focused, and disciplined. The conversation also explores the current golden era of heavyweight boxing, issues like PEDs and training altitude, and Ruiz’s long-term goals in and beyond the sport.
Andy Ruiz Reveals Rocky-Style Rise To Mexican Heavyweight Glory
Andy Ruiz Jr. recounts his rapid ascent from overlooked contender to first-ever Mexican heavyweight boxing champion after upsetting Anthony Joshua on short notice. He details the circumstances around taking the fight, his training approach, and how his fluid, combination-heavy style overwhelmed a favored, more physically imposing opponent. Ruiz discusses the upcoming Joshua rematch, how fame and money have changed his life, and his determination to stay humble, family-focused, and disciplined. The conversation also explores the current golden era of heavyweight boxing, issues like PEDs and training altitude, and Ruiz’s long-term goals in and beyond the sport.
Key Takeaways
Opportunities favor those who stay ready and ask boldly.
Ruiz stayed in the gym after his previous fight, directly messaged promoter Eddie Hearn for a shot, and was able to seize the Joshua opportunity with only about six weeks’ notice because he was already in fight shape and mentally in “fight mode.”
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Skill, efficiency, and combinations can beat superior physiques.
Despite being underestimated for his chubby build, Ruiz’s fast, fluid combinations and ability to punch from multiple angles inside neutralized Joshua’s outside power game and turned a supposed mismatch into a knockout upset.
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Support systems and humility help manage sudden fame and wealth.
Ruiz emphasizes staying grounded through family, faith, and long-time friends, crediting his father’s discipline and his own focus on his kids as key to avoiding the kind of destructive spirals seen in other champions.
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Training environment and coaching continuity are critical.
He contrasts a poorly managed camp under Abel Sanchez—where he was often left to train himself—with his current team under Manny Robles, where focused attention, tailored sparring, and a cohesive camp led to his championship performance.
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Staying essentially the same, while tightening details, can be smarter than overhauling success.
For the rematch, Ruiz plans to maintain the core of his last camp—same style, similar weight, same routines—while slightly intensifying work and tightening up physically, rather than risking wholesale changes to a winning formula.
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Clean sport and robust testing protect fighters in a dangerous game.
Ruiz praises WADA-style testing, expresses concern about differing standards in places like the UK, and rejects the idea of using PEDs, stressing pride in achieving his success purely through natural hard work.
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Long-term vision helps channel short-term success into lasting impact.
He talks about retiring around 35, investing with his family in housing projects, and eventually starting his own promotion (ARJ Promotions) to bring opportunities to Mexican fighters, turning his personal breakthrough into broader change.
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Notable Quotes
““I was already loose, I was already in fight mode… it couldn’t have happened at a perfect time.””
— Andy Ruiz Jr.
““It’s ’cause when they see me, they’re like, ‘Oh, look at this chubby kid…’ But the real people that know about boxing, they know the skills that I have.””
— Andy Ruiz Jr.
““I want the WBC belt… I’ll be undisputed if I have that belt. I’ll have all the belts in the heavyweight division, and I’ll be the new king.””
— Andy Ruiz Jr.
““This is a lonely sport… after the gym is what you do.””
— Andy Ruiz Jr.
““I wanna be the Mexican Rocky… I wanna continue to keep winning and defending all my titles.””
— Andy Ruiz Jr.
Questions Answered in This Episode
How will Joshua’s psychological and tactical adjustments in the rematch change the dynamics Ruiz successfully exploited in the first fight?
Andy Ruiz Jr. ...
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To what extent can Ruiz refine his conditioning and physique without losing the relaxed fluidity that makes his style so effective?
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How might stricter, standardized global anti-doping protocols alter matchmaking choices and venue decisions in high-stakes boxing?
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What specific elements of Ruiz’s early childhood training and frequent sparring against older, bigger opponents most shaped his current ring IQ and composure under fire?
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If Ruiz becomes undisputed champion and transitions into promotion, how could his own underdog journey influence the way he treats and develops future fighters?
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Transcript Preview
And we're live. What's up-
What's up?
... heavyweight champion of the world.
Mm.
How's that feel, man?
It's amazing, you know. It's a big blessing. Just happy.
Does, does it seem real?
It's still ... Yeah, of course. It's real, uh ... For the first few weeks, the first few days, I was pinching myself, seeing if it was-
(laughs)
... if it was a dream or nothing, but, you know, I'm just really blessed to be here. Lot of big blessings.
What an incredible situation, right? You got ... So, s- so, like, how many weeks out did you find out about the fight?
Um, I think it was, like, a month, a month and two weeks.
Wow.
A month and two weeks, I messaged Eddie Hearn. I told him, "You know what? Give me the opportunity." And wouldn't you know, he messaged back. Me and my girl were just all happy, like, "Whoa." It was crazy.
Wow. And you were already in camp, right?
Mm-hmm.
So, like, wasn't like you ... they called you out of shape?
No, um ... No, it was after my fight against, uh, Oleksandr Dymytrenko.
Oh, that's right. How much time did you have off to recover?
Um, I just took, like, a week and a half off.
Oh, that's nice.
And I went back to the gym, and I was just ready and loose. So it was ... It couldn't have happened at a perfect time.
That's amazing. Um, do you like it like that, where you just experienced a big fight so you're already kind of used to the, the being in the ring, being on television, the whole moment of it all, and then, boom, it happens again right afterwards?
Yeah, of course. You know, 'cause I was already loose, I was already in fight mode. So especially from f- uh, having the heavyweight champion title, you know, um, the opportunity to get that, it's ... It was amazing.
It was an incredible fight, man. It was incredible.
Yeah, thank you.
It was really amazing. What was amazing was when you got dropped, you kept your composure. You got up and then he tried to move in for the kill, and then you started landing bombs on him and dropped him. And I remember jumping off the bed while I was watching going, "Oh, shit."
(laughs)
It was wild, man. It was a wild fight.
Yeah. Uh, it was my first time getting dropped. And, you know what, um, I don't feel super hurt, you know, because I, I ... When I got dropped, he hit me with, uh, a good right hand and I took it like a champ. But, psh, I got up, man, and I just throw him bombs.
You have fluid punches, man. I mean, it's, it's really interesting to watch. You, you're so efficient, like the way you throw punches. You're not, like, grunting and fucking digging. Like, there's a lot of guys that you see, there's a, a tremendous amount of energy that's expended every time they throw punches. But you, man, your punches just come in bunches. They just brr. You just fire them off, man.
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