Duke McKenzie Says Andy Ruiz Jr. Is Wrong Opponent For Tyson Fury Before Anthony Joshua Fight

The former world champion believes Fury needs a tall, rangy heavyweight rather than Ruiz ahead of a proposed showdown with Joshua

Duke McKenzie believes Tyson Fury should avoid Andy Ruiz Jr. if he plans to fight Anthony Joshua later this year. The former world champion says Ruiz’s style bears little resemblance to Joshua’s and would do little to prepare Fury for a potential November showdown.

“No, there is absolutely no sense in it. Stylistically, Andy Ruiz is all wrong, isn’t he? He’s not 6ft 6 or however tall Joshua is. He’s not got long arms, he’s short, he’s diminutive and he’s a little pressure fighter,” said McKenzie to TalkSPORT Boxing about why Fury shouldn’t fight Ruiz Jr.

“Stylistically, that fight is all wrong. What he does need is somebody tall and rangy. Joshua, I’m talking about, and Fury is going to have to go down the same road.”

Ruiz has been out of the spotlight since his disputed draw against Jarrell Miller and has fought only sporadically in recent years. While he remains one of the division’s best-known names because of his upset victory over Joshua in 2019, he has yet to work his way back into the heavyweight title picture.

Fury returned to action in April with a unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov. The win ended a difficult stretch that followed consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk and kept Fury on course for the long-awaited Joshua fight.

Joshua is also taking a fight before their planned meeting. He is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga next month as both British heavyweights prepare for what is expected to be one of the biggest fights of the year.

McKenzie believes Fury should follow the same route Joshua is taking and look for a taller, longer opponent rather than someone with Ruiz’s pressure style. In his view, the goal should be preparation rather than risk.

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