Anthony Joshua's Coach Takes Andy Ruiz Jr To Task Over Weight Gain Excuse

Anthony Joshua's coach Angel Fernandez has hit out at former champion Andy Ruiz Jr for using his weight gain and partying lifestyle for his loss in the second fight in December.

Ruiz had shocked AJ during their first fight in June so the 2012 Olympic champion came into their second fight with a new game plan and had shed the pounds.

On the other hand the Mexican had gained around 15lbs of weight going into the rematch and afterwards blamed himself for putting on weight as the reason he lost but that doesn't sit well with trainer Fernandez.

Speaking to World Boxing News, Joshua's coach, said, "When Joshua lost in New York, he took it like a man. One of the first things that he said was, listen tonight it's about the man. He won the titles so give the credit and attention to him.

"The first thing Ruiz said after was, 'oh I've been partying. I shouldn't have been doing that. I should have been doing this'.

"Maybe Ruiz is saying this is to make the third fight happen - I don't know. Maybe he was thinking the public would go and say let's see the third fight.

"For me, I don't see a point of a third fight. Joshua has proved he's been too much for him.

"In the second fight, for him to come up with that type of excuse, I don't think he should have said that.

"He (Ruiz) kind of took some of the glamour from the performance by Joshua on the night."

Ruiz wore a sombrero and vest to cover up his weight gain. Image: PA Images

A third fight remains a possibility, with both men on one win each, but Ruiz might have to accept a trip to the UK for the rubber fight.

There remains hurdles though with AJ having mandatory challengers in Kubrat Pulev, who is likely to be his next opponent, and Oleksandr Usyk, who he's likely to drop the IBF title too.

Joshua dominated Ruiz. Image: PA Images

On top of those fights AJ will still have one eye on the winner of Tyson Fury's rematch with Deontay Wilder, though the two are likely to have a third fight.

Will Ruiz get the chance to prove that the weight gain is all that stopped him beating Joshua for a second time?

Topics: Heavyweight boxing, Kubrat Pulev, Tyson Fury, Boxing News, Andy Ruiz Jr, Andy Ruiz, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, heavyweight champion

Ryan Sidle

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