TYSON FURY has met up with heavyweight Andy Ruiz Jr for the first time at a charity event in Las Vegas, nearly two years after he sensationally knocked out Anthony Joshua.
Ruiz stepped in at late notice to fight Joshua in June 2019 and proceeded to drop the Briton four times on his way to becoming unified world champion.
Six months later the pair rematched in Saudi Arabia, with Joshua re-claiming his belts via a unanimous decision victory.
And Fury, who is waiting on an announcement for his hotly-anticipated undisputed clash with AJ, finally came face to face with the Mexican-American at an event which was hosted by a boxing friend of both Ruiz and The Gypsy King.
Ruiz posted a series of pictures with Fury on social media alongside the caption: “Had the pleasure of meeting my brother in Christ.”
The pair also spoke at the Nevada-based charity occasion about the struggles they have faced in their lives.
Fury began: “I became world heavyweight champion in 2015, within six months I was back down to nothing again.
“I had a lot of mental health problems, depressed, anxiety, struggling with alcohol and drug abuse. And I didn’t wanna live anymore, I tried to take my own life.
“A few years later, I asked God to help me in my life and asked for forgiveness.
And Ruiz then went on to add: “It just feels so good to express what we’ve all been through.
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“Anything is possible. No-one believed I would become heavyweight champion of the world, being overweight, being chubby.
“But I kept praying to God and I ended up becoming the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world.”
The boxing world is waiting on a date and venue to be confirmed for Fury-Joshua, with Saudi Arabia looking the likely location and July 24 the muted day.
Meanwhile, Ruiz returns to the ring for the first time since defeat to Joshua in December 2019 when he faces Chris Arreola on May 1.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
