by Steve Kim

Back on December 10th, 2016 - Andy Ruiz narrowly lost to Joseph Parker for the vacant WBO heavyweight title in Auckland, New Zealand.

Parker went forward with his career, making several defenses and is now scheduled for a major unification with IBF, IBO, WBA world champion Anthony Joshua on March 31 at Principality in Cardiff, Wales.

On the other end, Ruiz proceeded to take all of 2017 off - not fighting once since the loss to Parker.

He returns on Saturday night versus Devin Vargas as part of the Top Rank undercard at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

"I had a long layoff, every boxer needs that little layoff," explained Ruiz, a few weeks back while at Legendz Boxing in Norwark, California, where he now works with trainer Manuel Robles Jr.

"You come back even harder and I'm excited to get back in action."

So why was he dormant in 2017?

"I just wanted to take a break, I've already had 30 fights, I want to be with the family. I'm starting to invest my money, I started building houses," explained the amiable Ruiz. "Every boxer needs that little break and I've just got to come back harder."

Ruiz says he has ''a recharged battery and you've got to get that hunger back in you and the lion to come out."

Perhaps if he would have won another another round or two against Parker, it would be him facing Joshua later this month in a unification bout. To which he says - "I really don't have no regrets over the fight. We had a good little training camp over there in Big Bear. I have nothing bad to say about Parker, I wish him luck for his next fight but this time it's all bout me and I'm going to give it 130-percent next time."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.