Boxing

ANDY RUIZ JR looks a far cry from the bloated fighter who lost his rematch to Anthony Joshua.
The Mexican was slammed for piling on the pounds when he conceded his heavyweight titles to the Brit a year ago.

Andy Ruiz Jr looks in terrific shape

Andy Ruiz Jr was working on his left hook

But he has shown off his terrific body transformation as he plots his return to the ring.
Ruiz Jr, 31, appears to have ditched the partying and Snickers bars to get himself back in fighting shape.
‘The Destroyer’ revealed his intentions to get back among the best by parting ways with his former trainer in favour of Eddy Reynoso, who also trains Canelo Alvarez.
In a video posted on Instagram, Ruiz Jr can be seen being put through his paces and launching the left hooks that gave AJ nightmares in their first meeting.

Alongside the video he wrote: “Working hard getting ready for whoever is next. Thanks to God we are on the right track.”
Ruiz Jr confirmed he has dropped 20lbs although admitted he has been worked to the core.
He said: “It’s hard man. I have never done this in my whole life.
“Never lift weights, never had a physical trainer like they are doing… It’s time to execute, time to get it back, time to work hard.”

Ruiz Jr was hugely overweight in his rematch with AJ

With old foe AJ set to face Tyson Fury next year, Ruiz Jr is still seeking out his next opponent.
But Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed it could come in the form of Dillian Whyte.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Hearn said: “We will be reaching out to other players in the heavyweight division to see if they fancy it.
“I’d love to make Ruiz Jr vs Whyte, Wilder vs Whyte, Ortiz vs Whyte.”

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SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT king Canelo Alvarez showed his remarkable quality with a ‘fake jab’ uppercut in his win over Callum Smith.
The Mexican took home vacant WBC and the WBA belt after battering the Brit from pillar to post in a 12-round slug-fest in Texas on Saturday.

Canelo faked the right jab as he had Smith on the ropesCredit: DAZN

Smith braced himself for the right jab but Canelo had other ideasCredit: DAZN

While Smith left the ring bruised and beaten, Canelo barely had a scratch on him in his dominant victory.
The 30-year-old caught Smith throughout with a string of unstoppable combos, landing jabs and body shots on his hapless opponent.
But one of the most impressive came in round 12 when Canelo pulled off a moment of magic.
He went to hit Smith with a right jab before switching in the a blink of an eye with a left upper-cut.

It caught Smith plush in the face and obviously left him rocked as he stepped away from Canelo.
It was just the cherry on top on a one-sided performance as he plots to become the unified champ.
Alvarez is now a four division world champion and has plans to target the remaining belts with Billy Joe Saunders holding the WBO and Caleb Plant with the IBF.

The Mexican then threw a stunning left uppercut to bamboozle his opponentCredit: DAZN

But first he will be made to defend his WBC belt, and has 90 days to do so against No1 contender Avni Yildirim – which could be a homecoming bout.

Canelo’s trainer Eddy Reynoso to Boxing Social: “We’re planning on doing it in 90 days out in Mexico; then we’ll fight again.
“We want Billy Joe Saunders or Caleb Plant for a unification of the 168 pounds.”

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CANELO ALVAREZ continued his journey to becoming one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers in history on Saturday night after a dominant win over Callum Smith.
The Mexican superstar, 30, put in a near-flawless performance to cruise to victory.

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Canelo has now won 54 of his 57 fights, drawing twice and losing just once – to 50-0 Floyd Mayweather, no less.
He is now a world champion at FOUR different weights – part of a small, elite group to hold that honour.
Alvarez has won belts from welterweight to light-heavyweight – most-recently beating 6ft 3in Brit Smith at super-middleweight.
With very little left to prove in boxing, you’d think Canelo would be able to simply enjoy his win.

But, almost immediately after his Smith victory, he called out loudmouth YouTuber brothers Jake and Logan Paul.
The American pair have been hitting the headlines in recent months for their foray into boxing.
Logan, 25, kickstarted the fad after taking on fellow YouTuber KSI in 2018, before turning pro to take on the Brit yet again a year later.
After drawing their amateur bout, Logan lost the pro rematch.

Canelo Alvarez has won 54 of his 57 fights after beating Smith on SaturdayCredit: USA TODAY Sports

Canelo called out Jake and Logan Paul for sparring sessions to show them ‘what it’s all about’

Younger brother Jake, 23, soon followed, winning both of his professional fights via KO or TKO – most-recently against former NBA star Nate Robinson.
Incredibly confident in their own abilities, Logan quickly decided to prove he’s got what it takes to be considered a real boxer.
The Los Angeles star made it his mission to – by his own admission – irritate Mayweather into fighting him after bombarding him with jibes during a FaceTime call.
Logan is now set to fight 50-0 superstar Money, 43, in 2021.
Not one to be outdone, Jake decided to call out UFC star Conor McGregor in an outrageous, X-rated outburst earlier this month.
Last week, Logan called his younger sibling ‘f***ing dumb’ for the attack on the Irishman and his fiancee Dee Devlin.

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It’s fair to say the American brothers have ruffled some feathers – with Canelo the latest to vent his frustration, suggesting they’re only in it for the money.
After beating Smith, the Mexican said: “Ya know, it’s all about the money.
“I don’t think we would agree that people that are basketball players, that are YouTubers get licenses.
“I don’t criticize [the Paul brothers]. This is a very risky sport, and if you go up there, it’s very risky.
“No, I don’t want to fight them. I truly believe that it’s a lack of respect. It’s all based on money.
“It’s all for money. I’m focused right now on other projects.
“I have other stuff going on, and I would invite him for a sparring session so that he truly knows what it’s all about.”

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ANTHONY JOSHUA is digging deep into his own pockets to keep British amateur boxing alive – and jab some sense into the Government.
The coronavirus pandemic has now twice forced clubs all over England, Scotland and Wales to close.

Joshua is digging deep into his own pockets to help keep amateur boxing clubs – like his Finchley ABC – aliveCredit: Instagram @anthonyjoshua

Joshua has paid to help keep clubs alive after they were not afforded financial backing from the GovernmentCredit: Neil Hall – The Sun

Joshua famously plied his trade at Finchley ABC where he was trained by Sean MurphyCredit: Nick Obank – The Sun

And AJ knows from personal experience that these sweat boxes are much more to their local communities than places to exercise.
The 31-year-old WBA, WBO and IBF champ was a bricklayer with a growing criminal record before Sean Murphy at Finchley ABC got him on the straight and narrow.
And now – via Team GB – he is a 2012 Olympic legend and unified heavyweight champ still willing to give back.
Joshua said: “Boxing helped shape me, both physically and mentally.

“It is no secret that without boxing and the family created around my amateur gym, my life could have been very different. 
“The sport has given me a lot and I want to help highlight the issues affecting grassroots clubs and do what I can to keep the lights on for those most in need. 
“I would like to thank the Federations of England, Wales and Scotland for their support in helping facilitate how the financial aid reaches the most affected clubs in their regions and also agreeing to make sure the money goes directly to clubs.”
In November the Government revealed a £300million bailout plan for 11 British sports to fight coronavirus.

Joshua was trained by Sean Murphy, pictured, at Finchley ABCCredit: Nick Obank – The Sun

Joshua knows amateur boxing clubs are more than just places to exercise to the local communities they serveCredit: Nick Obank – The Sun

Horse racing, motorsports and badminton made the cut but amateur boxing was ignored.
AJ, whose Under Armour sponsors are adding to his cash injection with a matching amount of kit, insists his donation is not a dig at them.
But he hopes being able to highlight the value boxing clubs bring to some of Britain’s most deprived areas forces them to reconsider.
He said: “I am not using this as an opportunity to criticise the Government for its lack of funding towards boxing, these are unprecedented times.
“However I would like to use my platform to respectfully ask them to rethink their stance. 
“Without support we will lose community hubs and potentially the stars of tomorrow.”
Gethin Jenkins, Chairman of England Boxing, thanked Joshua for the donation.
He said: “We are delighted to receive and we thank Anthony for this much needed financial support and for drawing attention to the role and support the clubs offer in their local communities and with it the need for greater Government support to grass root boxing clubs.
“This is all the more so, given that 40 per cent of our clubs operate in the highest 20 per cent of marginalised areas in the country.
“We will announce how clubs can access this funding in the coming days.
“We know it will be gratefully received by the membership so thanks once again for this vital support.”

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