By Ryan Burton

Later tonight heavyweight contender Andy Ruiz Jr. (26-0) will step in the ring against former title challenger  Ray Austin (29-6-4) in Studio Center, Calif. super featherweight prospect Saul "Neno" Rodriguez headlines the card against Daulis Prescott.  

Ruiz, who will never be mistaken for a bodybuilder, weighed in at 248 pounds which is within a pound of the same weight he came in at in both of his late 2015 fights.  He held his training camp in Las Vegas at the Top Ran Gym with his head trainer Jeff Gromoja and Javier Capetillo.

"I had a really good camp. I had Jeff and Jorge training me for like two and a half months. I worked really hard and I am feeling really good for this next fight and the ones that come after," said Ruiz.

Ruiz last fought in October in Nebraska on the Terence Crawford-Dierry Jean undercard. He was scheduled to return to the ring in January but was pulled from the card when his handlers said that he wasn't mentally prepared for his fight.

"It was some of that and I also wanted to spend time with the family. Now that I am focused I am ready to stay busy," Ruiz clarified.

The 26-year-old Ruiz said he is fully focused on Austin who has been out of the ring for over a year. He knows a victory could lead to more significant fights in the near future.

"He's a veteran. You can never u underestimate a veteran. In he heavyweight division one punch can change the fight. I am confident. I prepared well and I just need to get the win and see what comes up next," Ruiz stated.

Ruiz believes that Tyson Fury's upset victory over Wladimir Klitschko has left the division wide open after more than a decade of Klitschko dominance. He plans on taking full advantage of the opportunities that will be presented to him.

"I am just focused on this guy and after the fight we will talk soon after. Fury has left the division wide open for all of the division including myself. I am willing to fight anybody and will take advantage of it," Ruiz told BoxingScene.com.

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