ANDY RUIZ JR’S SPARRING PARTNER BLASTS THE DETHRONED WORLD CHAMPION!

Andy Ruiz Jr’s weight gain has been heavily scrutinised in the aftermath of his defeat to Anthony Joshua.

Joshua took back his heavyweight world titles by outboxing the Mexican-American in their rematch with many singling out the champion’s increase in size as the reason for this result.

Ahead of the first bout, which he won by knockout Ruiz Jr came in at 268lbs, however for the rematch he was 15lbs heavier at 283lbs.

One man who was in camp with the ‘Destroyer’ to witness this change was America’s Michael Hunter.

The 31-year-old is a fellow top heavyweight and sparred Ruiz Jr to help him prepare second time around.

When asked what he saw, Hunter told Behind The Gloves: “I really think he lost [track of] the weight when he was over in Saudi.

“We’re over there two/three weeks before for preparation and our routine ends up changing from that camp.

“When you’re heavyweights and you don’t have weight to watch, it’s very easy to overeat.

“I think that’s what happened to him when he went over there, I think most of the undisciplined things started at the end of his camp.”

Pressed further as to whether he thought this affected the result, Hunter added: “For anybody to gain 15/20lbs in two weeks – because he was not that big.

“Once you gain that much weight that fast, it’s definitely gonna show out in your shape.”

-talkSPORTS