Andy Ruiz Jr looking to cut 10lbs from bulky 19st 1lb frame for Anthony Joshua rematch to be even more mobile
PODGY unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr wants to cut 10lbs from his 19st 1lb frame before he faces Anthony Joshua again.
The Snickers-loving underdog hero aims to be more mobile ahead of his rematch against Brit superstar AJ in Saudi Arabia on December 7.
After slotting in at seven weeks notice to replace drug banned Jarrell Miller in June, Ruiz revealed he aimed to come in heavy to withstand the shots from 6ft 6in Joshua.
But the second time around the Mexican-American wants to trim down and switch tactics - by weighing less and boxing with more speed.
He said: “I kind of wanted to be a little heavier because Anthony Joshua’s big, I wanted to carry his weight, take the punches well but I think being 10lbs lighter.
“I’m going to be a better fighter. I’m going to be more faster, let my hands go and be faster on my feet as well.
“Ten pounds isn’t going to make any difference, if anything it’s going to make me stronger, it’s going to make me faster, especially because he’s going to be running around.
“I think he’s going to be trying to win by points and my job is to cut the ring and do what we got to do and let my hands go, it’s exactly what we been training on in the gym.”
Ruiz, 30, dumped AJ to the floor four times before stopping him in round seven, snatching the WBA, IBF and WBO belts off the Londoner and blowing his US debut up in smoke.
The 25-1 outsider was labelled a no-hoper before he came in as a replacement and shook up the heavyweight picture.
But again the chubby champion will face doubters ahead of the rematch, with his mission now to prove the historic upset in the summer was no fluke.
Ruiz added: “When I win the rematch, everyone is going to know that this was not a fluke and I’m the real deal, just a little big kid with a dream.
“The main thing that I have to do is to let my hands go and throw my combinations. Boxing is my life. This is the only thing that I know how to do.
“Everyone has a dream, but it’s our job to fulfill them. With hard work, dedication and sacrifice, anything is possible.
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“Everyone thought that I was going to do nothing and lose in the first few rounds.
“But having that will and motivation inside me that I want to do something great helped me accomplish and become the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world.
“It’s about having the right team and the right spirits around you.”
