ANTHONY JOSHUA has drafted in a Mexican heavyweight sparring partner to replicate Andy Ruiz Jr.
On Saturday in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, AJ will attempt to win back his heavyweight world titles when he fights Ruiz Jr in the rematch.
Elvis Garcia has been drafted in to help Anthony Joshua prepare for Andy Ruiz JrCredit: Instagram @Elvis.Garcia.98
The boxing world was left stunned as the Brit was dropped three times by unfancied Ruiz Jr on the way to a shock seventh-round stoppage loss.
Joshua’s preparation was questioned in the aftermath, so this time around the 30-year-old is leaving nothing to chance.
Speaking to MailOnline another boxer who has been sparring with AJ, Timothy Moten, has revealed Elvis Garcia has been helping the Brit prepare.
Moten said: “There’s always a point in every Andy Ruiz fight where he reverts to that Mexican background and he is ready to bang, we saw that with Anthony Joshua in the first fight.
Anthony Joshua was floored three times on the way to the most shocking of defeatsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“When Joshua floored him, he was hurt and that Mexican style came out. Joshua has been sparring a Mexican heavyweight, Elvis Garcia, who is exactly the same.
“One time Garcia was hit with a big shot by Joshua in sparring and we all thought: “Wooh, is he out” but then he came firing back at him.
“So Joshua is learning to keep his composure, move his head, keep his guard up high even if he lands hurtful shots.”
SunSport has previously revealed how for the December 7 rerun in Saudi Arabia, most of AJ’s favourite previous sparring partners – like protege Lawrence Okolie and Scotland-based Congo slugger Martin Bakole – have not been called up.
Instead a motley crew of old friends, unknown prospects, Americans, Germans and Travellers, have been whisked up to the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, to whip Joshua into shape for his bid to reclaim his belts.
Moten has also claimed that Joshua is dropping many of his sparring partners and “sending them home early”.
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
