Andy Ruiz Jr. and Jarrell Miller will both look to get their careers back on track and into an upward trajectory within the heavyweight division when they clash this weekend, live on DAZN.
Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs) is coming off his first professional loss in a 10th-round TKO defeat at the hands of Daniel Dubois in December.
Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) dominated Luis Ortiz toward a unanimous decision back in September 2022, but hasn't fought since resulting in nearly two years away from the ring.
With the stakes of this pivotal heavyweight matchup being high, DAZN lists the keys to victory for both fighters.
Andy Ruiz Jr.'s keys to victory
Assert jab, push off to reset
“Big Baby” is going to constantly move forward in this heavyweight tilt. While doing so, he sometimes lowers his hands to his chest and stomach, giving Ruiz the perfect opportunity to thump him with a jab that he should look to assert early
If Miller resorts to the clinch, Ruiz should look to push off and reset to keep his quick hands moving.
Use those quick hands while counterpunching
It’s no secret that Ruiz possesses quick hands for a man his size, especially on the counterpunching end. After all, it were those quick counterpunches that served as the key agent to sparking a mammoth upset of Anthony Joshua back in June 2019 to become the first unified heavyweight world champion of Mexican descent.
Against a fighter like Miller who’s going to be constantly moving forward and throwing hands, Ruiz’s counterpunches could come up vital once again.
Look for the overhand right in traffic
Watch Ruiz’s crushing of “King Kong” Luis Ortiz from September 2022 and you’ll see that he does a great job of wrapping a quick right hook around the guard in traffic.
Punching in traffic and unloading on that shot to the temple could be the difference maker that Ruiz needs to record a big victory this weekend and return to the thick of the heavyweight division.
Jarrell Miller’s keys to victory
Flick out the jab early
Miller has a bit of height and reach advantage in this bout and he should look to use it by flicking out that jab early and getting the weapon established.
Having dropped 40 pounds for this fight should help Miller flick out that jab more fluidly.
Keep guard high and tight
Sometimes in between punches and while looking to create offense, Miller inexplicably drops his guard altogether. He cannot afford to do that against a quick-handed puncher like Ruiz who will make him pay for that flaw dearly.
Keeping that guard high and tight should allow Miller to absorb less damage in this bout.
Look to unload right uppercut-left hook combo
Although he lost the fight to Daniel Dubois in December, Miller did show a penchant for sneaking in a right uppercut on the inside and turning it into a combination with a rapid left hook.
Piecing together that right uppercut-left hook combination against Ruiz often could go ways for “Big Baby” to get his career back on track.
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