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Klitschko's Former Trainer Shocked By What He Heard From Joshua's Corner During Ruiz Jr Defeat

Klitschko's Former Trainer Shocked By What He Heard From Joshua's Corner During Ruiz Jr Defeat

​Johnathon Banks​ pulled no punches when describing Robert McCracken's corner advice.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Johnathon Banks claims Robert McCracken said one of the "dumbest" things you could say to Anthony Joshua during his heavyweight title fight with Andy Ruiz Jr.

Joshua suffered a shock seventh round defeat to Ruiz Jr, subsequently losing his world titles and Wladimir Klitschko's former trainer has slammed McCracken's corner advice.

McCracken told Joshua to "go back inside, fight him on the inside" and Banks pulled no punches in his assessment of that instruction.

"After the knockdown I hear Joshua's corner yelling 'Go back inside, fight him on the inside'. I thought that was the dumbest thing you could ever do to a guy with short arms," he said.

"He's got short arms. He can't reach from the outside, so you're going to do him a favour and fight on the inside? That's nuts."

Image: PA
Image: PA
Image: PA
Image: PA

Ruiz Jr and Joshua will run it back on December 7 and Banks is backing Joshua to reclaim the unified heavyweight titles.

"I give it to Anthony Joshua [in the rematch]. The main reason being I still think Joshua, skill wise, is the better talent. Nothing against Andy Ruiz," he added.

"From a boxer's standpoint, if Joshua keeps him on the outside and uses his reach, Ruiz won't have a chance to hit him. You have to give it to the gold medalist.

"Throughout history, especially in the heavyweight division, gold medalists have always showed us why they were gold medalists.

"Will Joshua be different? Will he follow the footsteps of previous gold medalists who lost the title and regained it? Or will he fall into the slums? That's the question and it will be exciting to see.

"Now it comes down to the talent of Anthony Joshua, not the will of Andy Ruiz.

"Andy Ruiz isn't going to change. He's still going to be the same fighter with the same short arms. If he engages him inside, he's in trouble.

"If Joshua fights him on the outside and uses his reach, Ruiz is in trouble."

Will Joshua regain the belts? Let us know what you think.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Boxing News, Andy Ruiz Jr, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Fight News, Wladimir Klitschko

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Darren Till, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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