Andy Ruiz Jr. says he's reborn in first fight since loss to Anthony Joshua

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on USAToday.com.

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When Andy Ruiz Jr. reflects on the life-changing, rollercoaster seven-month stretch of 2019 – how he upset Anthony Joshua that June to become Mexico’s first heavyweight champion, how it all came crashing down in an embarrassing defeat that December – and then recalls how depression and shame engulfed him for much of 2020, the boxer wants no parts of comeback talk.

Saturday night, Ruiz Jr. will indeed return to the ring for the first time since that December 2019 loss in a rematch with Joshua that cost him his belts.

And this upcoming bout against Chris Arreola in a Fox Sports pay-per-view event does represent a meaningful step in Ruiz’s quest for redemption. But because Ruiz, in his words, has experienced so much change and learned so many lessons in the last 17 months, he’s not even the same man or boxer anymore.

“I feel like the old Andy died and this is the new Andy,” the 31-year-old Ruiz told USA TODAY Sports. “I feel like this is my pro debut. It means a lot because I know inside that I’m doing the right things and progressing, going to the gym and training hard. It means a lot to me and hopefully the fans can see and say, ‘Andy could be more dangerous than he was before because he is more dedicated and more disciplined.’”

Ruiz declares himself reborn, and a victory would go a long way towards validating that claim. Ruiz wants to send that message, because he views his mission as bigger than reclaiming belts. It’s about gratitude and making good on his promise to God, regaining the respect of family, fans and opponents, and “turning unbelievers into believers.”

Ruiz once wondered if he’d ever have this opportunity. At the point that he describes as “the lowest of the lowest,” he questioned both his own desire and ability to resurrect his career.

While trapped in the throes of depression and regret in the months after his loss to Joshua, Ruiz’s weight ballooned from 283 pounds (which was already 15 more than his championship weight thanks to months of celebratory living and half-hearted training) to 310 pounds.

He doubted his desire and ability to rebound, but part of him believed that he had no choice.

“It was just like a spaghetti bowl, going in circles and circles, and I got tired of that life so I started telling God that if he could forgive me and give me another chance to redeem myself.”

Ruiz recalled falling to his knees one day in late November 2020, sobbing and prayerfully begging for redemption, and for help to get his eating and training under control.

“The next day, everything changed, bro,” he declared. The temptations that led him astray had vanished. Ruiz had a clear vision.

After convincing super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez to let him train with him and trainer Eddy Reynoso, Ruiz attacked his mission with a vengeance.

Now six months later, after training religiously and maintaining a healthy diet, he has lost 55 pounds and says he feels more explosive, more elusive and better equipped to fight at a high level.