ANTHONY JOSHUA has ditched the bodybuilding and his iPhone on the orders of Wladimir Klitschko.
AJ beat the heavyweight hero into retirement in a sensationally brutal 2017 Wembley spectacle.
Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr will collide in Saudi Arabia this weekendCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But, since trading brutal blows, they have struck up a firm friendship and coach Rob McCracken has been happy for the Ukraine legend to offer up tips and advice.
One was to lay off the iron pumping and spend more time in the ring.
And the other was to ditch calls home, WhatsApp chats and Instagram posts, during the Saudi Arabia fight week, to make sure he concentrates on Andy Ruiz Jr.
The 30-year-old challenger said: “Klitschko is a G. He does not get enough credit for everything he achieved.
“When I fought him, he called me a CrossFit champion and I was offended but he just knew he was better conditioned from spending more time in the ring than me.
“So this time we spent more time getting comfortable in the ring, moving to my left and right and understanding ring generalship.
“Klitschko also told me to stay off my phone this week and not listen to too many outside influences because my own belief is what is important this week, not what someone is trying to tell you on the outside.”
AJ only walked into a boxing gym aged 18, making his haul of amateur medals and world championship titles incredible.
And the fast learner, who splits his training between the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield and the Finchley ABC, already plans to help bring through the next generation of AJs, despite what joke-cracking McCracken reckons.
Josh said: “When I finish I think all of this stuff will have more meaning and make a good story.
“Rob knows I want to be a coach one day but he thinks it is so funny, he jokes I’ll be coaching them on FaceTime.
“But I want to be a coach so I can teach them about boxing.
“Everything I have gone through is going to help someone so I am never going to give up because people don’t support me any more.”
Joshua seems to be dramatically slimmer than the 17st 9lbs he weighed for the shock June 1 defeat to the Mexican.
And the belief has been that he will use his new slight frame to bounce and move around the ring and away from the 19st cannonball.
And he insists his most powerful muscle will be his brain as he bids to blast the champion away.
He said: “I am 6ft 6in so it would be wrong for me to go toe-to-toe with Ruiz and start hooking.
“I have to box to my attributes, which are range and movement.
“My boxing style is not what a scared fighter would do, it is what a smart fighter would do.
“I am going to be the smarter fighter on the night.
“We have to engage to win, but I am going to engage to my benefit. Educated engagement will be important on fight night.”
Wladimir Klitschko has been giving Anthony Joshua advice on the upcoming boutCredit: AFP or licensors
Anthony Joshua’s body transformation is incredible – watch his open workout ahead of Andy Ruiz Jr rematch
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
