Exclusive
'SPAR WITH ALL-COMERS'
Anthony Joshua needs to take on ‘street fighters’ to get revenge on Ruiz Jr, says David Haye
ANTHONY JOSHUA needs to take on ‘street fighters’ to get his revenge on Andy Ruiz Jr.
Former world heavyweight champion David Haye reckons AJ’s shock loss to Ruiz was because the Mexican was more ‘battle hardened’.
6
6
And Joshua must make serious changes to his training set-up if he wants to get his titles back.
AJ was stopped by Ruiz in New York on June 1 in the seventh round, losing his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight belts.
The Hayemaker said: “It appeared that Ruiz was more battle hardened in the battle zone and Joshua looked uncomfortable.
“I just think he needs much tougher sparring.
“I used to go on my own and literally spar with anybody. People from the street. But that hasn’t really been the case with Joshua.
“He needs to spar with all-comers who are allowed to try to knock him out.
“My sparring partners were allowed to try to knock me out if they could — and that’s what made it live.”
Joshua is now set to face Ruiz in a rematch in either November or December.
But Haye says his fellow Londoner needs to completely change his preparation.
He added: “Joshua has to be dragged out of his comfort zone and pushed to his limits in training.
“He obviously pays the price in the strength and conditioning side of things and he looks the part. But we know that’s not enough at this level of heavyweight boxing.
“What he appeared to struggle with against Ruiz was engaging in battle — and that’s something that must be addressed.
“In my opinion, AJ and his team must work on the boxing fundamentals, such as returning punches in close and having an awareness of when an opponent is letting knockout punches go.
“You can’t just put your hands up and hope they eventually stop punching, because a man like Ruiz won’t ever stop.
“You have to roll with attacks, you have to work with them, and you have to use counters.
“You can only do this if you have the right sparring partners in the build-up. It can’t be taught.”
AJ was put down four times by tubby Ruiz in one of boxing’s biggest upsets.
Many pundits thought Britain’s golden boy looked out of sorts in the bout.
How he can bounce back
ANTHONY JOSHUA has got his rematch to win back his world titles — but no one thinks it’s going to be easy. The Brit was humbled by unorthodox Andy Ruiz on his US debut in one of boxing’s biggest ever shocks. Barring a snap knockdown, AJ was dominated from start to finish.
Here ex-heavyweight world champion and now Betfair ambassador David Haye tells how the fallen champ can put things right.
KEEP IT REAL
DON’T ever underestimate a fighter. Ruiz isn’t known as a one-blow knockout specialist but he has good fundamentals.
It appeared as if Anthony was uncomfortable standing and trading punches with Andy.
Whenever he stood toe-to-toe with Ruiz, other than when he decked him, he looked to me to be awkward.
That would suggest his sparring and training camp had, perhaps, been too comfortable and a bit too friendly.
FIGHT ANYWHERE
THE rematch simply had to happen to quash any rumours and I’m looking forward to it.
But the venue won’t make any difference to the outcome. Once that bells rings it’ll be down to the two fighters.
Joshua fought in Ruiz’s country last time but the Englishman probably had 80 per cent of the crowd cheering him on.
It didn’t stop him from losing and it will be the same if the rematch was in London, Cardiff or wherever it takes place.
ENTOURAGE IS OK
I’VE read people suggesting Anthony Joshua should cut down on his entourage.
But it’s just people trying to find reasons for why he lost.
I don’t think the number of people around you has any bearing whatsoever on what happens in a boxing ring.
You could have two or three friends or you could have 10 or even 20 people around you.
It makes absolutely no difference to a fighter on fight night.
TRUST YOURSELF
SOME crazy suggestions have been made for Joshua’s defeat.
He was training too hard or not training enough. He was knocked out in sparring or he didn’t do any sparring.
I’ve read injury, sickness in the camp, even panic attacks.
Everyone seems to have an opinion on what happened.
But one person I’ve not heard make an excuse is Anthony Joshua himself.
What people need to do is accept it was a good fight.
Most Read in Boxing
But Haye, 38 — who retired a year ago after suffering back-to-back defeats to Tony Bellew — believes Joshua should not head straight into a rematch like he did against the Bomber.
He explained: “It’s heavily risky to take an immediate rematch.
“If he went and had a couple more fights, I think he would have a much better chance against Ruiz.”
6
6
6
6
- For more from Betfair ambassador David Haye, go to
Topics