03-24-2020, 11:37 AM
Andy Ruiz Jr eating 'like a drug abuser' as Teddy Atlas eyes training role
09:38, Mar 24 2020
Andy Ruiz Jr has a lot of work to do with his habits outside of the ring if he's to recapture the world heavyweight titles, according to prospective trainer Teddy Atlas.
Andy Ruiz Jr's prospective trainer Teddy Atlas has likened the fallen heavyweight's eating problems to the habits of a drug abuser.
The hard-nosed Atlas has admitted an interest in training the super-talented Mexican-American but first wants an introductory period to set out some parameters to their relationship.
It seems Atlas appears to have idea what he's in for.
"With a kid like Ruiz, it's almost like dealing – and this is gonna sound harsh, and I don't mean it to sound harsh – but again, the truth sometimes can sound that way … it's almost like dealing with a drug abuser," Atlas told The Ak and Barak Show on SiriusXM.
"You know, he's got a problem with eating. And if you had a kid that you were really trying to save from drugs, what would you do? You don't have to be a drug counsellor to understand that you'd remove him from the things that are comfortable for him. You remove him from his surroundings.
"Well, the same thing with a Ruiz. I'd have to remove him from his surroundings. 'Oh, Teddy, you don't want him with his father. Oh, you don't want him with his family. Oh, you wanna be a dictator.' Uh, yeah. Yeah. You wanna call it that, go ahead and call it that. You have to do what's gonna be able to change things."
Respected boxing trainer and commentator Teddy Atlas wouldn't stand for any nonsense if he was in charge of Andy Ruiz Jr.
Atlas says with Ruiz's current situation of having earned huge money for his win and loss to Anthony Joshua, it's important as a trainer to know what's motivating the fighter. That's why he's eager to set up an exploratory meeting.
"I haven't agreed to anything, other than saying that if you're serious, you come to New York and you spend a couple days with me," Atlas told The Ak and Barak Show" on SiriusXM.
"During that time, I would work in the gym, see how coachable you are, get an idea and a feel for your attitude and ask some very important questions – I think important for you, but definitely important for me.
"Why is this important to you now? You're a multi, multimillionaire. Why is it important to you? Why? Why do you wanna continue doing this? And what is your expectation? And I would listen to him. And then I would have a decision to make. And he would have a decision to make, whether or not he could get along with my philosophy, that he could buy into what I would believe."
Struggling for movement, Andy Ruiz Jr was regularly hit by Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight world title rematch.
Atlas is wary of the way Ruiz's respected coach Manny Nobles was sacked in the aftermath of the December loss to Joshua in Saudi Arabia. He doesn't feel the coach should be blamed for the fighter's own downfall after turning up out of shape.
"I think it's wrong. That'd be part of it, too. Those would be part of my questions, because I would wanna know. 'So, you think that other people are guilty of the fault here? And it doesn't lie on you?'
"Because being able to take responsibility, and even loyalty … there's a power to that. There's a strength to that. And not being able to do that, there's a weakness to that."
Ruiz has been training at his home gymnasium and expressed a desire to get back into action.
Atlas suggested any reset fight would need to be against an opponent Ruiz would comfortably beat with the tests getting tougher from there.
09:38, Mar 24 2020
Andy Ruiz Jr has a lot of work to do with his habits outside of the ring if he's to recapture the world heavyweight titles, according to prospective trainer Teddy Atlas.
Andy Ruiz Jr's prospective trainer Teddy Atlas has likened the fallen heavyweight's eating problems to the habits of a drug abuser.
The hard-nosed Atlas has admitted an interest in training the super-talented Mexican-American but first wants an introductory period to set out some parameters to their relationship.
It seems Atlas appears to have idea what he's in for.
"With a kid like Ruiz, it's almost like dealing – and this is gonna sound harsh, and I don't mean it to sound harsh – but again, the truth sometimes can sound that way … it's almost like dealing with a drug abuser," Atlas told The Ak and Barak Show on SiriusXM.
"You know, he's got a problem with eating. And if you had a kid that you were really trying to save from drugs, what would you do? You don't have to be a drug counsellor to understand that you'd remove him from the things that are comfortable for him. You remove him from his surroundings.
"Well, the same thing with a Ruiz. I'd have to remove him from his surroundings. 'Oh, Teddy, you don't want him with his father. Oh, you don't want him with his family. Oh, you wanna be a dictator.' Uh, yeah. Yeah. You wanna call it that, go ahead and call it that. You have to do what's gonna be able to change things."
Respected boxing trainer and commentator Teddy Atlas wouldn't stand for any nonsense if he was in charge of Andy Ruiz Jr.
Atlas says with Ruiz's current situation of having earned huge money for his win and loss to Anthony Joshua, it's important as a trainer to know what's motivating the fighter. That's why he's eager to set up an exploratory meeting.
"I haven't agreed to anything, other than saying that if you're serious, you come to New York and you spend a couple days with me," Atlas told The Ak and Barak Show" on SiriusXM.
"During that time, I would work in the gym, see how coachable you are, get an idea and a feel for your attitude and ask some very important questions – I think important for you, but definitely important for me.
"Why is this important to you now? You're a multi, multimillionaire. Why is it important to you? Why? Why do you wanna continue doing this? And what is your expectation? And I would listen to him. And then I would have a decision to make. And he would have a decision to make, whether or not he could get along with my philosophy, that he could buy into what I would believe."
Struggling for movement, Andy Ruiz Jr was regularly hit by Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight world title rematch.
Atlas is wary of the way Ruiz's respected coach Manny Nobles was sacked in the aftermath of the December loss to Joshua in Saudi Arabia. He doesn't feel the coach should be blamed for the fighter's own downfall after turning up out of shape.
"I think it's wrong. That'd be part of it, too. Those would be part of my questions, because I would wanna know. 'So, you think that other people are guilty of the fault here? And it doesn't lie on you?'
"Because being able to take responsibility, and even loyalty … there's a power to that. There's a strength to that. And not being able to do that, there's a weakness to that."
Ruiz has been training at his home gymnasium and expressed a desire to get back into action.
Atlas suggested any reset fight would need to be against an opponent Ruiz would comfortably beat with the tests getting tougher from there.