Former heavyweight champion who beat Anthony Joshua says his 'mission is not over' as comeback confirmed

Former heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz Jr. has confirmed a comeback, stating his 'mission is not over,' following the shake-up in the heavyweight division caused by Oleksandr Usyk relinquishing the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles in July 2026 after an underwhelming performance against Rico Verhoeven. Ruiz, who famously upset Anthony Joshua via seventh-round stoppage at Madison Square Garden in 2019, believes he can challenge one of the newly elevated champions, Murat Gassiev (WBA) or Agit Kabayel (WBC). The IBF title is also set to be contested in a separate bout, leaving multiple heavyweight belts up for grabs.