By Tim Parsons-
British promoter Frank Warren has lambasted shamed loser Andy Ruiz Jr after he admitted not preparing well enough for his world title fight against Anthony Joshua last Saturday, December 7.
Andy Ruiz Jnr, who shocked the world when he beat Anthony Joshua on June 1, taking all his belts form him to become the first world champion of Mexican descent, “brought disgrace to himself” and boxing by being in “no fit state” to fight in his loss to Anthony Joshua, promoter Frank Warren has said in a scathing attack.
Ruiz Jr, 30, weighed 20st 3lb for the fight in Saudi Arabia, more than three stone heavier than Joshua, who gained a wide points win to regain the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles.
“This was ridiculous. When eyebrows were being raised at the weigh-in he literally was the elephant in the room,” said Warren, who promotes Tyson Fury but was not involved in this bout.
“Just because you’re a heavyweight it shouldn’t mean you don’t have an obligation to display a degree of athletic intention.
“Ruiz Jr brought disgrace to himself and the sport by failing to prepare to any sort of level. Joshua must’ve wondered which chin he was supposed to aim for.”
Ruiz Jnr came in a stone heavier than he did in his first fight against Britain’s Joshua in June, when Ruiz Jr caused an upset with a seventh-round stoppage victory. He admitted in his post fight press conference that “three months of partying” had left him in poor condition and that he “should’ve trained harder”, “was overweight” and “didn’t move how I wanted to”. He disgracefully apologised to his trainer and father for the shame he heaped on his entire team.
SPECTACLE
Warren added: “What we ended up with was a fella who scoffed himself out of being world champion and a spectacle that suffered as a result.
“It’s a bit late after the event to say you partied too much and regret carrying so much weight.
“If he turned up like that for a non-title fight, the promoters and TV executives would be rightly hacked off over a fighter coming in so out of condition.
“Spare a thought for those punters who had a punt on the champion, who had every right to believe he had put the graft in.
“Professional athletes have a responsibility to ensure a level playing field on behalf of those who pay for the privilege of watching.”