Andy Ruiz Jr Says Anthony Joshua Has a 'Big Chance' Against Tyson Fury

Andy Ruiz Jr — the man who handed Anthony Joshua the most humbling night of his career back in 2019 — thinks his old rival can beat Tyson Fury. Speaking to Ring Magazine, Ruiz gave the 36-year-old Joshua a "big chance" if the two Brits finally share a ring later this year, provided AJ walks forward, applies pressure and lets his hands go.

The fight isn't a done deal in the way it should be. Contracts are signed, but the location has become the sticking point. Per Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, Joshua first agreed to a UK date and has since pushed for Madison Square Garden, while Fury reportedly has no problem going stateside. Queensberry's Frank Warren, meanwhile, says the negotiations can't drag beyond next week.

Two Warm-Ups, Two Different Stories

The tune-ups told opposite tales. Fury stopped 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in the seventh — a retirement finish, not a highlight reel, but a comfortable enough night. Joshua's outing was messier: he was nearly wiped out in the opening round by the little-known Kristian Prenga before rallying to a second-round stoppage. That contrast is a big reason bookmakers have installed Fury as a sizeable favourite.

Ruiz isn't buying the write-off, though. He acknowledged what makes Fury a nightmare — the mouth, the mind games, the movement, the sheer unpredictability — but leaned into Joshua's toughness. He said he'd love to see AJ get the win, and made a point of Joshua's mental resilience: a man who's climbed off the canvas, absorbed defeats, and endured a car crash that killed two of his close friends.

What the Numbers Say

The records frame the puzzle. Fury sits at 36-2-1 with 25 knockouts and holds the #3 heavyweight ranking. Joshua is 29-4 with 26 KOs and is currently unranked, coming off a sixth-round stoppage of Jake Paul. AJ carries the bigger finishing dividend on paper, but Fury's résumé and craft explain why the market leans his way.

The real question is whether any of this matters yet. Both men are booked, both camps are talking, and both promoters are pulling in different directions over a venue. Ruiz has picked his side. Now the negotiators have about a week to give him a fight to actually pick from.