Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua is bound to come up against a smarter, fitter, trimmer Andy Ruiz Jnr when both pugilists go for their much-talked about world title fight on December 7, as the American-Mexican triple-belt holder has changed his diet in order to be in shape for next month’s rematch in Saudi Arabia.
Megasportsarena.com gathered that, in trying to put himself in the best possible shape for the big battle, Ruiz has cut out junk food, as he looks to get in prime physical shape to tango ‘AJ’ again, after he shocked the boxing world when he stopped the Brit in the seventh round on June 1st at Madison Square Garden, New York, despite heading into the fight as a late call-up and overwhelming underdog.
He is now preparing even better ahead of December’s rematch in Saudi Arabia, as the 30-year-old fighter got fans talking with his dramatic weight loss, as he looks to stun Joshua again, and his nutritionist has revealed all about the boxer’s diet after his recent weight loss and leaner frame.
The nutrition expert, Zoha Matin, founder of Zo’s Meal Plans, told Sky Sports: “Andy’s weight is coming down. He’s working really hard in the gym which is a factor. His diet? Fish, salmon, pasta on sparring days. Once in a while we have had a cheat day but nothing too crazy, man.
“The goal is to keep him eating clean, keep him eating healthily. Feeling light is what we’re going for. We want to keep him light. We’re not targeting a specific weight – maybe the same weight or a little bit less. But we want to feel light so it’s easier for him to move on his feet.”
Ruiz, who weighed in at 19st 11lbs, a stone-and-a-half heavier than Joshua when they first met in New York, is now cutting down on chocolate bars that he professed his love for before their first fight, during while he caused ‘AJ’ all sorts of problems back in June, but now wants to pose a different and more mobile threat in December.
Ruiz added: “I kind of wanted to be a little heavier because Anthony Joshua’s big, I wanted to carry his weight, take the punches well but I think being 10lbs lighter, I’m going to be a better fighter. I’m going to be faster, let my hands go and be faster on my feet as well.
“Ten pounds isn’t going to make any difference, if anything it’s going to make me stronger, it’s going to make me faster, especially because he’s going to be running around. I think he’s going to be trying to win by points and my job is to cut the ring and do what we got to do and let my hands go, it’s exactly what we been training on in the gym.”
