Andy Ruiz Jr. reveals his four-name hit list

Andy Ruiz Jr. wants to rekindle rivalry with AJ

Andy "The Destroyer" Ruiz Jr. (35-2-1, 22 KOs) is coming back, and he’s got unfinished business with some of the biggest names in the sport.

In an exclusive interview with Covers.com, the former unified heavyweight world champion opened up about his comeback, who he’s looking to fight next, with one name right at the top.

Firstly, he was asked for his thoughts on a trilogy with Anthony Joshua, the brace of bouts between them currently scored at one apiece, "That's something that I would love to [do].

"I think that would be like the first fight that I would even want to join because, you know, there's bad blood that we left behind – especially me, losing against him in Saudi Arabia, I want my revenge."

Relatively unknown and widely dismissed, with a 32-1 record, Ruiz stepped in at the last hour to fight Briton Anthony Joshua after disgraced drug cheat Jarrell Miller was withdrawn.

The Mexican-American shocked the world after he climbed off the canvas in round three to floor the champion four times to win in the seventh, collecting the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts.

It's only the green and gold WBC belt that he hasn't won, which is the hands of the undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksander Usyk, who is also high on Ruiz’s wish list, "I feel everybody’s just trying to get Usyk. Usyk is the one with the belts. Usyk is the one with the name. And Usyk is the money man. So I think that's a good fight that I'd be interested in as well."

And Ruiz could be on the Ukrainian's hit list too, "Maybe like a few weeks ago, I was messaging Usyk. I guess he sent me a message or something. I was like, 'Hey, much love, brother. I would love to get in the ring with you. It would be a pleasure.' And then he was like, ‘In God's timing, we will do it. We will run it up.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, snap.’"

Ruiz went on to list even more names on his radar, "Usyk, Tyson Fury, Joshua, and [Deontay] Wilder, for sure – four of them. Those are the big names.

"I know they still underestimate this chubby little man, this chubby Mexican man. I don’t know if they would take the fight. I don’t know if they would think it’s too dangerous or whatnot. But a fight with Ngannou, I think that would be awesome."

Ruiz recently reunited with his old trainer Manny Robles, "[Robles and I] made history together against Anthony Joshua, and we're going to do it again. I should be leaving in two weeks to Los Angeles to train with him in his facility. I'm excited to get out of my comfort zone, to go to his space and his gym, his rules, to stay dedicated."