IT was almost inevitable. Anthony Joshua spends months getting himself fine-tuned and ready to conquer the biggest demon of his boxing career to date โ that pesky human sandbag, Andy Ruiz Jr โ and a boxing website picks the opportune moment to tell the world heโs in no position to do anything of the sort. Thereโs been problems in camp! Anthony Joshua reportedly TROUBLED by sparring partnerโฆAGAIN, it screamed.
It was a curious headline, particularly as it hadnโt been reported anywhere until WBN reported it without a source to verify the story. It followed a similar tale from the first fight, that Joshua had been knocked out in training, which gathered pace alongside all manner of conspiracy theories when Anthony Joshua was stopped in seven stunning rounds by Ruiz in June.
What has been widely reported, for good reason it seems, is that Joshua has had an excellent training camp this time. Furthermore, given the intensity of sparring Joshua has demanded, it would not be a surprise to hear heโs been buzzed once or twice. Frankly, it would be a surprise if the opposite was true. Boxer Gets Punched In Sparring. You donโt say.
Certainly, from what Boxing News can gather out here in Saudi Arabia, the Englishman appears to be in an exceptionally good place โ both in body and mind.
Rob McCracken, Anthony Joshuaโs trainer, cut a slightly prickly figure in New York six months ago in the lead-up to that unforgettable first encounter. But the coach โ like his charge โ is in a completely different mood this time around.
โAnthony is in a much better place than last time at this stage, and Iโm much happier with where heโs at,โ McCracken reported three days before the sequel.
โEverybody has said his training camp has gone really well. Weโve been training well out here in Saudi. Anthony has been training at the British Embassy, heโs got his own facility, and able to train diligently and hard. Listen, we know how good Ruiz is, we know heโs a top heavyweight fighter, and heโs the champion. Weโre totally confident, it’s a completely different mood going into this fight than back in New York. I think you will see the real โAJโ, for sure.โ
One would expect such optimism to be reported so close to the fight, but McCracken is not one to paint a false picture. Ahead of the Joshua-Ruiz opener, he was not nearly as chirpy. He even told some members of the media on the Monday night in New York that he just wanted the fight to be over and done with.
This time, McCracken was visibly relaxed and waxing lyrical about his fighter.
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โFor Andy Ruiz we had about five-week notice for the last fight,โ McCracken continued. โAnthonyโs [original] opponent pulled out [Jarrell Miller], so we had to restructure and change things, but with Ruizโs ability that isnโt easy to do, but that isnโt a excuse.
โThe right man won on the night, they both had 12 weeks to prepare for this fight, I think itโs a level playing field now. I think Anthony knows exactly what is in front of him, the sparring partners have been tailored to suit what Andy does. I think it you will see the real AJ on Saturday night and see a great performance.โ
Boxing News caught up with heavyweight contender and chief Joshua sparring partner, Bryant Jennings, when the โreportโ broke surrounding Joshuaโs supposed mishap in training.
โItโs false,โ Jennings said defiantly. โThe story had no reliable sources. You didnโt hear it from the horseโs mouth. I donโt understand how someone could repeat or pass around something that is not true, let alone verified. Iโve been with him every day โ heโs not been hurt. Not at all.
โHeโs in a good place and heโs had to make sure heโs mentally prepared. He is more mentally prepared this time around โ these are the things that you work on and you practice on and thatโs what heโs been doing. The only signs to come from his camp โ and like I say, I have been there from day one โ are good signs.โ
Joshuaโs countryman Tom Little โ who takes on Mahammadrasul Majidov on the Saudi undercard โ has also sparred the former champion in the build-up to the Ruiz return and he too refuted claims that Joshuaโs preparation has been anything other than positive.
โI havenโt been with Anthony the entire time, but Iโve seen nothing but good things from him,โ Little told BN. โBelieve me, heโs in brilliant shape and heโll beat that pudding this time. The things heโs been working on are the next level, the concentration better than ever.
โI know all the guys in his camp. There hasnโt been one word about him getting hurt or being in trouble. Itโs all optimism and a sense that heโs going to win and win well. No doubts whatsoever. You could feel that optimism from the moment you walked into the gym.
โI donโt know where these stories come from but theyโre not worth reading or listening to. I know Joshua wonโt care about such nonsense, he’ll laugh at it like we all do. Particularly after he wins the fight.โ
But should Joshua lose โ which, let’s be clear, is just as likely as him winning at this point โ it will be because of his opponent, and nothing else.
HOW ANDY RUIZ IS WINNING THE BATTLE OF MIND GAMES IN SAUDI ARABIA