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Anthony Joshua Seems To Be Dramatically Cutting Weight Ahead Of Rematch With Andy Ruiz Jr

Anthony Joshua Seems To Be Dramatically Cutting Weight Ahead Of Rematch With Andy Ruiz Jr

It hasn't gone unnoticed with fans.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Anthony Joshua appears to be dramatically cutting weight ahead of his highly-anticipated rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr.

The 29-year-old tipped the scales at a massive 17st 9lbs (247lbs) when he took on Ruiz Jr in June. Of course, he lost his heavyweight world titles inside the distance in New York.

However, it looks like Joshua is trimming down his muscly physique as he gears up for the rematch.

The ex-world champion shared a picture of himself on social media in preparation for Ruiz Jr and he seems to be a lot slimmer in build.

Image: Snapchat/Anthony Joshua
Image: Snapchat/Anthony Joshua

His new look got boxing fans talking. One person said: "He is looking like a boxer now instead of a bodybuilder Instagram model."

While another said: "He's gotta have lost at least 15kg of muscle since his weigh in for the Ruiz Jr fight. Looks like a boxer now instead of a power lifter."

Joshua will have the chance to regain the heavyweight world titles in the rematch, which was officially confirmed for Saudi Arabia on December 7.

And ahead of facing the Mexican-American again, Joshua has opened up about his defeat, explaining in detail how the Madison Square Garden crowd and having one eye on WBC champion Deontay Wilder were responsible for his loss.

"This fight, in terms of what it meant, there was no real gain in it," he told JD Sports.

"So beating Ruiz, I could be sitting here now and it wouldn't have meant as much to me as it is to train for the rematch.

"Everything it meant to Ruiz winning, is everything it didn't mean to me beating him.

"In the second round I heard the crowd booing, someone told me there was a fight going on in the arena, that's why. But [my] debut in New York - crowd's booing.

"The week before, Wilder had knocked [Dominic] Breazeale out in the first round and I'm fighting two weeks after, so [I thought] 'let's go and handle business', I don't want to let the people down.

"With this fight here, I feel like where I've been fighting for so many years, when I came into the boxing arena, it was like I was steamrolling through.

"Joshua's going to fight, yeah, boom, knock them out, so from walking into a gym, to three years later competing in the Olympics, from turning professional to three years later becoming world champion, it seemed like this was already written in the stars.

"But I think behind the scenes, the efforts, the education, the mind training that it takes to develop these skills and capabilities to be in that position are tiring.

"When it looks easy, they never truly respect what it is you are trying to achieve.

"My purpose for that fight was, 'am I fighting Wilder next?' The purpose for that fight was, 'what is he doing next?', it wasn't solely on winning that fight."

Will 'AJ' avenge his sole professional defeat? Let us know.

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Topics: Joshua News, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Heavyweight, Eddie Hearn, Fight News, Deontay Wilder