Joshua faces top sparring for Ruiz rematch

Eddie Hearn has revealed that Anthony Joshua is taking a completely different approach to his sparring for the Brit’s highly-anticipated heavyweight rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia on December 7.
The Matchroom head has revealed the problems which dogged Joshua’s camp in the run up to the first fight at Madison Square Garden – one of boxing’s biggest ever upsets – which ended in Ruiz Jr spectacularly triumphing via a seventh-round stoppage.
Sparring partners were in short supply for the original world title bout after the Mexican was drafted in at the 11th hour to replace Joshua’s scheduled opponent, Jarrell Miller, who had to be pulled out following failed drug tests.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “Sparring is something we’ve been working at.
“First time around we only had four weeks, and three weeks of sparring. We found guys but probably not the guys we really wanted.
“Now the sparring is top class. He is focused and looking great. Eight weeks to go.
“We’re not interested in looking at Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder or anything else. It’s just about winning one of the biggest heavyweight events of all time.”
Joshua also commented on his sparring and quashed rumours that he was knocked down in training ahead of the first Ruiz Jr fight, during which he asked his trainer Robert McCracken after the sixth and penultimate round: “Why am I feeling like this?”
The Olympic gold medallist said: “I feel like people are more interested in their five minutes of fame.
“Even in sparring, everyone wants to be famous, rather than a good fighter.
“You can’t even enjoy your training and work on things without someone trying to make up false allegations, and trying to get five minutes of fame.
“You bring someone into your training camp to do them a favour, you’re paying them, you beat them up in every round, then they go and do an interview.
“It just happens all the time in boxing, there is just a lot of envy.”
Eddie Hearn previously spoke of the problem finding like-for-like sparring partners to mimic the awkward physical and technical skills of Ruiz Jr.
“It’s so difficult to replicate the style of Andy Ruiz,” Hearn said. “The guy is 6’1′, he’s 19st, and he’s got speed like a middleweight.
“It’s one thing getting a sparring partner in, it’s getting them to let their hands go against Anthony Joshua. Would you want to do it? You’ve got to be mad to even spar with him, let alone fight him.”