LEGENDARY trainer Teddy Atlas said working with Andy Ruiz Jr would be like “dealing with a drug abuser” because of his “problem with eating”.
Ruiz sacked trainer Manny Robles after losing his rematch against Anthony Joshua in December and revealed he wants to work with iconic coach Atlas, who trained Mike Tyson during his amateur career.
Andy Ruiz Jr has been accused of having an eating problemCredit: PA:Press Association
Ruiz blamed his rematch defeat against Anthony Joshua for losing dedication
But the cornerman turned analyst will demand Ruiz – who lost the unified belts six months after stunning AJ at Madison Square Garden – to move to New York to prevent him losing focus by training at his home in California.
Atlas told SiriusXM: “With a kid like Ruiz, it’s almost like dealing – and this is gonna sound harsh, and I don’t mean it to sound harsh – but again, the truth sometimes can sound that way – it’s almost like dealing with a drug abuser.
“You know, he’s got a problem with eating. And if you had a kid that you were really trying to save from drugs, what would you do?
“You don’t have to be a drug counselor to understand that you’d remove him from the things that are comfortable for him. You remove him from his surroundings. Well, the same thing with a Ruiz.
“I’d have to remove him from his surroundings. ‘Oh, Teddy, you don’t want him with his father. Oh, you don’t want him with his family. Oh, you wanna be a dictator.’
“You wanna call it that, go ahead and call it that. You have to do what’s gonna be able to change things.”
“With a kid like Ruiz, it’s almost like dealing – and this is gonna sound harsh… it’s almost like dealing with a drug abuser.
Teddy Atlas on Ruiz
After Ruiz scored an upset stoppage win against Joshua, the 30-year-old spent more time partying and parading his WBA, IBF and WBO titles than he did training in the gym.
The podgy Mexican-American – who banked around £15million for the brace of bouts – then blamed the rematch defeat on a lack of dedication.
And before Atlas can think about taking on the beaten champion, he will first question the multimillionaire’s hunger to once again reign as heavyweight king.
Atlas said: “I haven’t agreed to anything, other than saying that if you’re serious, you come to New York and you spend a couple days with me.
“During that time, I would work in the gym, see how coachable you are, get an idea and a feel for your attitude and ask some very important questions – I think important for you, but definitely important for me.
“Why is this important to you now? You’re a multi, multimillionaire. Why is it important to you? Why? Why do you wanna continue doing this? And what is your expectation?
“And I would listen to him. And then I would have a decision to make. And he would have a decision to make, whether or not he could get along with my philosophy, that he could buy into what I would believe.”
Andy Ruiz Jr wants legendary coach Teddy Atlas to train him
Teddy Atlas will demand Ruiz leaves his home in California to move to New York
Andy Ruiz Jr in training as he aims to win back titles
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
