12-04-2019, 10:42 AM
Andy Ruiz Jr v Anthony Joshua: Brit warns rival sequel will be 'marathon not a sprint'
Andy Ruiz Jr to Anthony Joshua: ‘The belts are mine’
Unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr tells Anthony Joshua he won't be winning back his titles.
Anthony Joshua has fired a warning shot at conqueror Andy Ruiz Jr, saying this weekend's highly-anticipated rematch will be a "marathon not a sprint".
The British heavyweight star showed off his more slender physique at a public workout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (Wednesday NZT) as he aims to win back the belts he lost to Ruiz in New York in June.
Late replacement Ruiz shocked the world when he flattened Joshua four times in a seventh-round TKO victory that saw him capture the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles.
It ranks as one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history, but Joshua is confident there will be no repeat at Diriyah Arena on Saturday (Sunday NZT).
"I spent six months in the gym and that's why you see a boxer's lean physique," Joshua told Sky Sports in the UK amid questions over his more athletic appearance.
Anthony Joshua showed off his slimmed down physique ahead of his heavyeight rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr.
"The changes I've made will make it very difficult for Ruiz Jr in the rematch.
"Everyone talks about change but us fighters have a spark in us. I fine-tuned. "It's a marathon not a sprint, and I will be victorious."
An unshaven Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) hinted that he was ready to drag his rival into the later rounds if necessary, which may explain why he has shed so much muscle mass having battled stamina issues in the past.
The former champion is expected to come in much lighter than the 17st 9lbs he weighed-in before the first fight at Madison Square Garden.
Andy Ruiz Jr displayed his lightning fast hands while smashing the pads at the public workout in Riyadh.
Despite his emphatic loss last time round, Joshua is the narrow bookmakers' favourite and spoke with confidence at the public workout that he could right the wrongs of that fateful night in the Big Apple.
"I know how good I am. I dedicate my life to boxing so it will be no surprise when I win, Joshua told Sky Sports.
"This is all I've got so when I do amazing things I keep my head on my shoulders, and my feet on the ground. I know I'm capable of doing it but it's about doing it in those 36 minutes."
However, Ruiz seemed unconcerned about Joshua slimming down for their sequel, saying he was "ready for whatever he brings".
The Mexican-American (33-1, 22 KOs) – whose sole career defeat came against Kiwi Joseph Parker back in 2016 – vowed to "prove everyone wrong" again as he displayed his lightning fast hands while smashing the pads at the public workout.
"I know 'AJ' has been working on different technicals, he's slimmed down, so we've been working on different things and angles, different pressures and combos, ready for whatever he brings", Ruiz said.
Ruiz felt that weight wouldn't be a factor and suggested he would come in around the same as he did for their first encounter.
"I didn't want to do anything different. We just trained harder and focused more in the gym on the speed and the technicals, and of course the pressure."
Anthony Joshua predicted he will gain revenge against Andy Ruiz Jr having "fine-tuned" his approach.
"I don't want to show too much of what we're working on, it'll all come out on December 7."
While confident of retaining his titles, Ruiz stopped short of predicting another knockout victory.
"I don't want to predict any knockouts, but I'll die trying to get this victory to bring these belts back to Mexico. The hard part is over, it's time to have fun on December 7."
Meanwhile, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn insisted that another defeat to Ruiz wouldn't be fatal to the Brit's career.
"Win, lose or draw he has a future," Hearn told Sky Sports. "If he loses this fight? He will have had 24 fights, lost to one man, and unified the division twice.
"He will box in 2020, he will box in 2021, and he will probably box in '22 and '23."
Andy Ruiz Jr to Anthony Joshua: ‘The belts are mine’
Unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr tells Anthony Joshua he won't be winning back his titles.
Anthony Joshua has fired a warning shot at conqueror Andy Ruiz Jr, saying this weekend's highly-anticipated rematch will be a "marathon not a sprint".
The British heavyweight star showed off his more slender physique at a public workout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (Wednesday NZT) as he aims to win back the belts he lost to Ruiz in New York in June.
Late replacement Ruiz shocked the world when he flattened Joshua four times in a seventh-round TKO victory that saw him capture the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles.
It ranks as one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history, but Joshua is confident there will be no repeat at Diriyah Arena on Saturday (Sunday NZT).
"I spent six months in the gym and that's why you see a boxer's lean physique," Joshua told Sky Sports in the UK amid questions over his more athletic appearance.
Anthony Joshua showed off his slimmed down physique ahead of his heavyeight rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr.
"The changes I've made will make it very difficult for Ruiz Jr in the rematch.
"Everyone talks about change but us fighters have a spark in us. I fine-tuned. "It's a marathon not a sprint, and I will be victorious."
An unshaven Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) hinted that he was ready to drag his rival into the later rounds if necessary, which may explain why he has shed so much muscle mass having battled stamina issues in the past.
The former champion is expected to come in much lighter than the 17st 9lbs he weighed-in before the first fight at Madison Square Garden.
Andy Ruiz Jr displayed his lightning fast hands while smashing the pads at the public workout in Riyadh.
Despite his emphatic loss last time round, Joshua is the narrow bookmakers' favourite and spoke with confidence at the public workout that he could right the wrongs of that fateful night in the Big Apple.
"I know how good I am. I dedicate my life to boxing so it will be no surprise when I win, Joshua told Sky Sports.
"This is all I've got so when I do amazing things I keep my head on my shoulders, and my feet on the ground. I know I'm capable of doing it but it's about doing it in those 36 minutes."
However, Ruiz seemed unconcerned about Joshua slimming down for their sequel, saying he was "ready for whatever he brings".
The Mexican-American (33-1, 22 KOs) – whose sole career defeat came against Kiwi Joseph Parker back in 2016 – vowed to "prove everyone wrong" again as he displayed his lightning fast hands while smashing the pads at the public workout.
"I know 'AJ' has been working on different technicals, he's slimmed down, so we've been working on different things and angles, different pressures and combos, ready for whatever he brings", Ruiz said.
Ruiz felt that weight wouldn't be a factor and suggested he would come in around the same as he did for their first encounter.
"I didn't want to do anything different. We just trained harder and focused more in the gym on the speed and the technicals, and of course the pressure."
Anthony Joshua predicted he will gain revenge against Andy Ruiz Jr having "fine-tuned" his approach.
"I don't want to show too much of what we're working on, it'll all come out on December 7."
While confident of retaining his titles, Ruiz stopped short of predicting another knockout victory.
"I don't want to predict any knockouts, but I'll die trying to get this victory to bring these belts back to Mexico. The hard part is over, it's time to have fun on December 7."
Meanwhile, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn insisted that another defeat to Ruiz wouldn't be fatal to the Brit's career.
"Win, lose or draw he has a future," Hearn told Sky Sports. "If he loses this fight? He will have had 24 fights, lost to one man, and unified the division twice.
"He will box in 2020, he will box in 2021, and he will probably box in '22 and '23."