Former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. has decided to change his plans for a comeback in Mexico and instead fulfil a previous contract to face Cuban fighter Luis Ortiz.
The Mexican had announced on Wednesday a July 16 bout at the Monumental Plaza de Toros Mexico against former kickboxer Tyron Spong, but as revealed by ESPN, Ruiz had a signed contract to face King Kong Ortiz this summer.
"We are working amicably with Premier Boxing Champions to make sure Ruiz fulfills his obligations to both parties," Triller Fight Club president David Tetreault told ESPN.
"If we had known that PBC intended to fight him earlier, we would never have chosen this date.
"We enjoy a good relationship with PBC and are currently working to identify an optimal date to reschedule the fight. The date Triller lands will be in collaboration with PBC and their calendar."
Andy Ruiz Jr. is the first Mexican boxer to be crowned world heavyweight champion and hoping for a strong 2022 which will put him in contention for a world title. Ruiz captured the WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight titles in June 2019 after a surprise win over Anthony Joshua, but he then lost those belts lost those belts six months later in a rematch.
Following that result, Ruiz Jr. joined Canelo Alvarez's team, headed by Eddy Reynoso, but after the fight with Chris Arreola he had to undergo knee surgery.
When the announcement to face Spong was made, Ortiz didn't hold back and called Ruiz Jr. a "coward" for choosing Spong over him for his next fight.