Robles: Ruiz not in great shape but we have enough time

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Ruiz was expected to start training camp yesterday, but that didn’t happen.

According to trainer Manny Robles, unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. was supposed to kick off training camp on Monday for his expected rematch with Anthony Joshua (wherever that ends up landing), but that hasn’t gone according to plan. Ruiz and Robles haven’t started their preparations for the rematch although Robles still expects to start working with Ruiz this week.

“We’re working on getting back together this week. I was hoping it would be [Monday] but it wasn’t, so we’re definitely working on that right now,” Robles said. “We didn’t have a training session [Monday], but we’re scheduled to start training this week.”

After going on to say that he would prefer the rematch to take place in the United States — though readily admitting it’s not up to him — Robles says he’s been in touch with Ruiz a few times since he scored the biggest win of his career, saying Ruiz isn’t currently in the best condition.

“He’s not in great shape, but he’s hitting the gym back home in Imperial. He’s running the treadmill, but obviously we haven’t fully begun training camp,” Robles said.

“Once we do we have [close to] four months to get ready for a fight. That’s enough time to get him in shape. Let’s hope we can get him back in the gym real soon and get him going again.”

Obviously it’s still plenty early, with sufficient time for Ruiz to work himself into the best condition possible before the rematch. But there could be at least some slight cause for concern. There have been a number of observers who feel that Ruiz has been enjoying his time off a little bit too much, questioning whether or not he really still has the desire to physically prepare himself for the sequel. At this point that remains to be seen, but expect it to be a storyline once the promotion gets into full swing.