Andy Ruiz Jr (33-1, 22 KOs) is ready to show his new body on May 1 in the fight against Chris Arreola. Ruiz recently admitted that after losing a rematch to Anthony Joshua in December 2019, his weight reached 300 pounds. In the second meeting with the Briton, the former world heavyweight champion officially weighed 282 pounds. In the first fight Joshua vs Ruiz the Mexican weighed 266 pounds.
“After my last defeat to Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia, I gained almost 300 pounds,” Ruiz said. "Now we are working slowly but surely. We want to weigh between 250 and 255 pounds [for the Arreola fight]. We don't want to go to extremes by losing too much weight. We are now trying to convert fat into muscles. It's just hard work. But discipline is in place. We just need to stay focused. I don't look behind Chris Arreola's back. He's a tough fighter. He is a warrior. He is able to withstand a lot of punches. He's strong. We just need to stick to the game plan."
Ruiz has always had weight problems throughout his career, but he promises a new and improved version of himself against Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs).
The 250 pounds is a desirable figure that Ruiz and his team have previously stated recently, but have never reached. However, signs of the 31-year-old's physical transformation can already be seen on social media. Ruiz has achieved an imposing look for his legs and a lighter upper body.
Moving training under the watchful eye of Eddie Reinoso and training with Canelo Alvarez could be the missing piece Ruiz needed to renew his approach to boxing.
“Losing my last fight was a crushing blow to me. I didn't do what I had to do. Although it was the most important fight of my career. I waited my whole life to become a champion, and I started doing things that I never thought I would do. I do not want to repeat the same mistakes again, and this is the main thing that motivates me. "
“Now that I'm losing weight correctly, I feel amazing. I feel like I can do much more than I previously could not do because of my body. I had such breasts that because of them I could not punch normally. There is no limit for me. I still have the grudge for my second fight with Anthony Joshua, and I don't want to go down that path again. I just want to be well prepared for this fight and all the other big fights ahead of me,” Ruiz said.
