Andy Ruiz Jr faces Jarrell Miller this weekend in a potentially career-defining clash.

Ruiz is coming off almost two years of inactivity whilst Miller faces the tough task of bouncing back from his first ever loss, stopped in the final round against Daniel Dubois in December of last year. Should he want to compete at the top level, he can’t afford many more like that.

As for Ruiz, he is desperate to reach the heights he once did when defeating Anthony Joshua in 2019 to become unified heavyweight champion. He has not had the activity nor opposition to come close to that since, but beating Miller will be a big step in the right direction.

Speaking on his podcast, The Fight, famed trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas spoke on the weight and inactivity ahead of the fight.

“We always put that [overweight] label on Ruiz, but meanwhile it’s Miller who came in 300 and something pounds. It’s Miller who’s got the weight problem now, not Ruiz, and matter fact last time I saw some footage of Ruiz in training camp for this he looked good.

He’s got his head on straight. He won the title against Joshua, knocked him out, then he went way up in weight and he blew the rematch. He was living the big life. He wasn’t ready for it. It happens.”

Atlas backs Ruiz to get the win and believes he can make a statement if he stops the big Brooklynite quicker than Dubois did.

“Ruiz is a good fighter. He can punch. He’s got good hand-speed, he knows how to fight, technically solid. He can box on the outside, he can walk you down. He knows how to counterpunch … I like Ruiz in this fight. 

If Ruiz wants to stand up in this crowd of heavyweights and get noticed, he is challenged with the task of stopping Miller because Dubois did. Can you out-do Dubois?

Anthony Joshua is also in trouble if Andy Ruiz wins this fight, his chin is no joke.”

Having said that, the final prediction is the former unified champion on points.

“It’s not an easy task. Miller showed an unbelievable chin, great heart, and he can be dangerous too. I like Ruiz. I don’t know if I want to go all the way on a limb and say late round stoppage … I’m gonna take Ruiz by decision.

I’ll give Miller enough credit for the heart that he showed, the problem is I don’t know how damaged he is.”