ANDY RUIZ JR “brought disgrace to himself and to boxing” according to legendary boxing promoter Frank Warren.
Just hours after he was easily outpointed to lose his heavyweight world titles back to Anthony Joshua, the Mexican admitted he had “partied too much”.
Frank Warren has pulled no punches in his criticism of Andy Ruiz Jr and his ‘preparations’
Anthony Joshua easily outpointed Andy Ruiz Jr to win back his world titlesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Eyebrows were raised at the weigh-in when Ruiz Jr tipped the scales at 20st 3lbs – and in the ring his lack of conditioning was there for all to see.
While AJ is deservedly getting the plaudits for a masterful display of boxing, hit and don’t get hit, the tame nature in which Ruiz Jr gave up his titles has brought criticism in many quarters.
And none more so than Warren, who of course promotes the Lineal heavyweight champ Tyson Fury.
He believes Ruiz Jr has gone from “heavyweight king to Burger King”.
Frank Warren believes Tyson Fury would have sparked out Andy Ruiz Jr at the weekendCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Writing in his column, Warren said: “Andy Ruiz jr brought disgrace to himself and the sport by simply failing to prepare to any sort of required level.
“Just because you are a heavyweight it shouldn’t mean you don’t have an obligation to display a certain degree of athletic intention.
“Yes, he was heavy last time around and usually wobbles a bit around the middle, but this was ridiculous.
“When eyebrows were being raised at the weigh-in he literally was the elephant in the room. Joshua must have wondered which chin he was supposed to aim for.
“What we ended up with was a fella who basically scoffed himself out being world champion and a spectacle that suffered as a result.
“The fault for this lies firmly with Ruiz, who didn’t have any legs to close down a Joshua on the retreat.”
After Joshua’s unanimous points win against Ruiz Jr, Fury’s coach Ben Davison branded the two-time heavyweight champion of the world a “poor man’s Tyson Fury”.
‘POOR MAN’S TYSON FURY’
It was in reference to Joshua changing up his tactics to completely outbox his opponent.
And Warren believes Fury would have put on a much better show than AJ did when faced with an out-of-shape Ruiz Jr.
He added: “Joshua did what he had to do and congratulations to him on getting his belts back, but I know what Ben Davison was getting out when he used the term ‘a poor man’s Tyson Fury’.
“Ben wasn’t being disrespectful because Tyson Fury wouldn’t have been dancing around away from Ruiz, he would have done a job on him and stopped him.
“Tyson is elusive. While he looks to make them miss, he also always seeks to make them pay.
“Watch the Wilder fight again and you will see that getting up close holds no fears for Tyson.”
Fury is set for his own rematch on February 22 when he challenges Deontay Wilder for the WBC belt he deserved to win from their first scrap.
Joshua, meanwhile, is in line to face IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev next leaving WBO No1 challenger Oleksandr Usyk out in the cold until later in 2020.
Anthony Joshua set to fight Kubrat Pulev next before facing Oleksandr Usyk, says Eddie Hearn
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
