ANTHONY JOSHUA is dropping his sparring partners and sending them home early.
That’s according to one boxer who has been working with AJ in camp, Timothy Moten.
Anthony Joshua has reportedly been dropping his sparring partnersCredit: Mark Robinson Ltd
Timothy Moten, left, has been drafted in to spar with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Facebook/Timothy Moten
Joshua is just days away from his shot at redemption when he rematches Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia.
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.
It meant he lost his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight world titles.
But Moten has revealed that Joshua has stepped things up in his training – to devastating effect.
Anthony Joshua has drafted in a selection of heavyweights that replicate Andy Ruiz JrCredit: Mark Robinson Ltd
Speaking to MailOnline, the 27-year-old: “There have been guys here, I don’t want to say any names, but I’ve seen guys come into camp, get blown away and get sent home that same week.
“He’s dropped a few of his sparring partners and he’s rocked a lot.
“Joshua is by far the hardest hitter I’ve been in the ring with.”
Moten also interestingly revealed that Joshua has been sparring another Mexican heavyweight in the hope of being prepared for the bombs that Ruiz Jr will inevitably try and land come December 7.
REPLICATING RUIZ JR
He added: “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.
“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.
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
