UNBEATEN heavyweight contender, Andy Ruiz Jnr (29-0, 19 KOs), withdraws from his October 29th bout against fast-rising prospect, Hughie Fury (20-0, 10 KOs). The big men were set to clash in a WBO title eliminator on the Tyson Fury – Wladimir Klitschko undercard on October 29th in Manchester. The news comes ten days after Ruizโs unanimous decision victory over Franklin Lawrence in Lemoore, California.
Furyโs father and trainer, Peter Fury, made the announcement on social media early Wednesday morning. โAndy Ruiz junior pulls out of fight October 29thโ said the elder Fury. โNews just in today.โ
“Not happening as far as I know,” said long time Top Rank matchmaker, Bruce Trampler, to Boxing News when reached for comment.
This isย the second fight from which Ruiz withdraws in less than ten months. Earlier in the year, his former trainer, โBigโ Jeff Grmoja, told BoxingScene.com that โhe wasnโt mentally where he needed to beโ and that โthe best move was to have him sit (his January 16th fight) out.โ
Earlier in the month, promoter Frank Warren surprised fans when he lined up the slick, hard-hitting, Mexican-American against the relatively untested Fury. The match would have been a sizable step up in competition for Warren’s fighter and could have potentially led to an intriguing Fury versus Fury mandate by the WBO, had the cousins each notched victories on October 29th.
โI am happy to be in such a big fight against a top heavyweight,”ย Fury said when the fight was originally announced. “I will be giving my all to retain my WBO Intercontinental belt and I hope it is a fight that the fans enjoy. Out of all of the top up-and-coming heavyweights I believe I have fought the better men in my career so far. Being tested against tougher opponents will help me in this fight.โ
Specific details have yet to emerge as to the reason for Ruizโs withdrawal. He looked to be in great physical shape as he trained for his last bout in Nevada alongside Jorge Linares. The Venezuelan was at altitude preparing for his own fight against Anthony Crolla, which will be stagedย this weekend at the Manchester Arena.
We await an official announcement from Warren as to whether Hughie Fury will still appear on the October 29th card against a new opponent.