Six most drastic body transformations in boxing including Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr
HEAVYWEIGHT boxing has seen a drastic shake up in recent years – in all shapes and sizes.
Gone are the days of 15st champions like Mike Tyson, with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury leading the way for the new age of mammoth goliaths.
But even the heavyweight rulers – who are in talks for an undisputed title decider – have undergone dramatic body transformations during their careers.
And most noticeably, so has AJ’s former foe Andy Ruiz Jr, who weighed a disastrous 20STONE in their 2019 rematch.
But they follow a long list of boxers who have had massive transitions in weight.
Anthony Joshua
After Ruiz stunned Joshua into the first defeat of the Brit’s career, it forced much needed change.
Joshua slimmed down to as low as 16st 13lb which helped him outbox the Mexican-American over 12 rounds in Saudi Arabia.
AJ scaled 17st 2lb for his last win, a knockout against Kubrat Pulev in December, keeping up his reformed body type and cautious boxing style.
It’s a far-cry from the career-heaviest 18st 2lb he weighed against Carlos Takam in 2018.
Andy Ruiz Jr
When Ruiz replaced drug cheat Jarrell Miller in June 2019, he did so at 19st 2lb – which he even admitted was too big.
So it came as a massive shock when he came in a STONE heavier for their Saudi Arabia rematch six months later, where he conceded the titles.
Ruiz is yet to fight since, but has now moved training camps to Canelo Alvarez’s San Diego base under coach Eddy Reynoso.
And he appears to be reaping the rewards as a recent picture revealed the former champion trimmer than ever.
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez
The Mexican superstar has won belts at super-welterweight, middleweight, super-middle and a light-heavyweight, as he bulked up to beat Sergey Kovalev in 2019.
But Canelo is famous for looking like a different man after he has weighed in a day before fight night.
He is known to pack on well over a stone and a half after stepping on the scales and having a day to re-hydrate.
Canelo’s constant switching between divisions means the multi-weight champion has had many different looks.
Kell Brook
The former IBF welterweight champion leaped two divisions, and almost a stone, to challenge Gennady Golovkin for the middleweight belts in 2016.
He gloated about his strength and beefy diet before the bout but ultimately was overpowered by GGG.
Brook then moved back down to welterweight to defend his title against Errol Spence Jr a year later and looked to have no fat on his body at the weigh in.
Brook then campaigned at light-middleweight but shrunk his body back down to welter in December, but was beaten by WBO champion Terence Crawford.
Tyson Fury
After becoming unified heavyweight king by dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in late 2015, the Gypsy King began his gradual decline suffering from mental health problems and depression.
Testing positive for cocaine and losing his belts due to inactivity, Fury claims to have ballooned up to 28 stone.
But after finding the love for boxing again through ex-trainer Ben Davison, the heavyweight was back in the ring in 2018 and by 2020, he was champion again.
Fury dethroned rival Deontay Wilder of the WBC belt and now looks to put British bragging rights on the line in the summer against AJ.
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Conor McGregor
When the Irishman made his lucrative boxing cameo appearance against Floyd Mayweather in 2017 he came with a reputation as a fearsome puncher.
Much of McGregor’s success in the UFC was down to the power he brought at featherweight after a massive weight cut – often dwarfing his opponents.
And when he agreed to a super-welterweight bout at 154lbs against Mayweather, the American’s team were adamant the Irishman would not make the weight.
But McGregor – who has never come in heavy – scaled at 153lbs – much to the disbelief of Mayweather Promotions chief Leonard Ellerbe.
