ANTHONY JOSHUA has weighed in for his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr at 16st 13lb – his lightest ever for a world title fight.
AJ revealed a much leaner and athletic physique in his bid to regain his belts from Mexican Ruiz, who has packed on the pounds at 20st 3lb.
Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr will have a three-stone weight difference in their world title rematchCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
AJ is the lightest he had been since beating Denis Bakhtov way back in 2014Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Mexican-American Ruiz is the heaviest he has been since his debut a decade agoCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Joshua weighed in at under 17 stone for the first time since 2014 – having once checked in at 18st 2lb against Carlos Takam in 2017.
The Watford man has dropped 10lb since he fought Ruiz in June, the lightest he has come in since his knockout victory over Denis Bakhtov in 2014.
Meanwhile, the Destroyer has incredibly piled on more than a stone from the 19st 2lbs he was at Madison Square Garden.
Despite appearing to have trimmed down for their rematch, Snickers lover Ruiz had always insisted he would weigh the same.
Eddie Hearn revealed earlier in the week that he believed that the 30-year-old Mexican had tricked fans into thinking he had lost weight.
He’s a big lad isn’t he. but it is not about weight, it is about hitting and not getting hit
AJ on Andy Ruiz Jr
And in reality, Ruiz does now tip the scale just a stone short of his heaviest ever weight, which came on his debut as a 19-year-old in 2009.
Joshua said: “He’s a big lad isn’t he. but it is not about weight, it is about hitting and not getting hit. It’s the sweet science.”
Former super-middleweight king Carl Froch added: “Being lighter will give Joshua more speed.
“But I want to see him around or above 17st, anything below that would worry me.
“I want to see AJ big and strong enough to bully Ruiz out of it.”
Former boxing star David Haye backed his fellow Brit in his weight-loss pursuit, suggesting it could make him even more effective against Ruiz.
Joshua will take on Ruiz this Saturday in Saudi Arabia, with the ring-walk now confirmed for 9pm GMT.
Anthony Joshua’s career weights
- Emanuele Leo – 16st 6lb
- Paul Butlin – 16st 8lb
- Hrvoje Kisicek – 16st 5lb
- Dorian Darch – 17st 3lb
- Hector Alfredo Avila – 17st
- Matt Legg – 16st 12lb
- Matt Skelton – 17st 1lb
- Konstantin Airich – 17st 2lb
- Denis Bakhtov – 16st 12lb
- Michael Sprott – 17st 2lb
- Jason Gavern – 17st 7lb
- Raphael Zumbano – 17st 10lb
- Kevin Johnson – 17st 10lb
- Gary Cornish – 17st 11lb
- Dillian Whyte – 17st 7lb
- Charles Martin – 17st 6lb
- Dominic Breazeale – 17st 5lb
- Eric Molina – 17st 11lb
- Wladimir Klitschko – 17st 12lb
- Carlos Takam – 18st 2lb
- Joseph Parker – 17st 4lb
- Alexander Povetkin – 17st 7lb
- Andy Ruiz Jr – 17st 9lb
- Andy Ruiz Jr – 16st 13lb
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
