Mexican-American gets his second crack at world glory on Saturday when he challenges WBA, IBF and WBO king AJ at New York’s illustrious Madison Square Garden
ANDY RUIZ JR has warned Anthony Joshua he will emulate Mike Tyson in order to exploit “a lot of weaknesses” he has seen in the unified champion.
Ruiz, 29, gets his second crack at world glory on Saturday when he challenges WBA, IBF and WBO king AJ at New York’s illustrious Madison Square Garden.
The huge underdog told he will use the same techniques as heavyweight legend Tyson, who stood just 5ft 10in, to “exploit” the unbeaten 6ft 6in champion.
Ruiz said: “I’ve seen a lot of weaknesses in him and I’ve seen him working on them.
“The main thing is to stick to the game plan. I don’t want to say too much about his weaknesses. I’ve just got to improvise and exploit them when the bell rings.
“We’ve seen a lot of videos of Mike Tyson. We’re working on some of the moves he did so I can get to Anthony Joshua.
“The main thing is we’ve got to stay focused and prepared. Get ready for anything and stay in shape.”
The Mexican-American comes into the fight having lost just once in 33 fights - a 2016 close points defeat for the WBO title against Joseph Parker.
Despite his lightning quick hands Ruiz has before been labelled a “fat slob” by legendary promoter Bob Arum among others - but the California born has vowed to “shock everybody”.
He added: “I’m used to it. All my life everybody has been underestimating me until they see me fight, until they see me knock someone out. Then it’s ‘Look at this chubby kid go.’
“All the people are underestimating me, but it’ll be a hell of a fight. They’re going to see what I’ve got. I’m here to shock everybody, shock the world and show them what I’m all about.
"I’m ready for Anthony Joshua. Hopefully he’s overlooking me, thinking I’ll be a piece of cake. It’s a whole different ballgame when they’re in the ring with me.
“Once they see the speed and accuracy I have, I know I will shock him a lot. I think it’s going to be an all-out war."
The opportunity was handed to Ruiz after American loudmouth Jarrell Miller failed a trio of drug tests.
Armed with the chance to cause a legendary upset, Saturday’s challenger revealed a “dream” he shared with his little brother where he dethrones AJ.
Ruiz said: "I see them raising my hand and telling me, ‘And the new.’ I've dreamed this before.
“That’s why I was harassing Eddie Hearn to get the fight. I knew I could do better than the other guys he was taking to.
“In the dream that I had all I heard was: ‘And the new heavyweight champion of the world!’ This is a real life dream. I was sleeping and woke up in training camp. I told my little brother.
“Dreams are dreams and reality is reality. We have to make the dreams happen. June 1, I’m going to do all I can to follow those dreams and make them reality.”
