The Ring’s No. 4-ranked heavyweight shocked the boxing world last weekend, scoring a ninth-round stoppage win over the highly-touted Moses Itauma.

The 34-year-old Croatian silenced the London crowd at O2 Arena, outlasting the 21-year-old to win the vacant IBF strap. Immediately afterwards, Hrgovic stressed a desire to add further titles and pursue unification bouts.

Ruiz, however, wants him to put that plan on pause and fight him next.

“I would love to face Hrgovic,” Ruiz told a group of reporters before his return against Damian Knyba on Friday. “I think that’s a perfect style, that's why we picked a big, giant guy.”

The pair will headline a Matchroom Boxing card at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, streamed live on DAZN as well as cable networks TNT and truTV.

Knyba (17-1, 11 KOs) has never knocked off a highly-ranked contender and enters their encounter after a third-round stoppage defeat by WBC champion Agit Kabayel on January 10. Armed with a 6-foot-7 frame and 86-inch reach, he's an inch taller and has a four-inch reach advantage compared to Hrgovic.

Before the former unified heavyweight titleholder can get too ahead of himself, he's aware of the need to take care of business. Now 36, Ruiz has been consistently inactive with just three bouts since December 2019.

He'll make his first appearance since undergoing right-hand surgery after a majority draw with Jarrell Miller in August 2024.

Ruiz promises to deliver a statement and regain his place among the division's top table, though 21-year-old Itauma (14-1, 12 KOs) has some rebuilding to do. The hard-hitting southpaw was dominant against Hrgovic before rapidly running out of steam, punching himself out before exhaustion preceded a stunning stoppage loss.

That performance has prompted critics to poke fun at his downfall, which Ruiz knows all about.

After scoring a seventh-round upset win over Anthony Joshua in June 2019 to become unified champion, Ruiz (35-2-1, 22 KOs) entered their immediate rematch six months later out of shape and unmotivated, as Joshua outboxed him at range to inflict a lopsided points defeat.

Itauma's circumstances are completely different, though Ruiz knows the outside noise might be getting to the young contender after falling short on his biggest stage yet. He offered The Ring's No. 8 heavyweight some advice.

“Don't listen to all the critics,” Ruiz said. “You’re still young, you’re blessed. You have a really incredible talent, just keep focused and training hard.”