Sanchez: Ruiz Can Beat Joshua Again if…

Despite comments where he demanded Andy Ruiz “stop being a superstar,” trainer Abel Sanchez gives credit to his former boxer on upsetting Anthony Joshua and believes he can do it again.

Ruiz pulled off a major upset last month when he dropped Joshua four times en route to a TKO and winning the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight championships. The win has launched Ruiz to greater popularity, making several talk show appearances, meeting the president of Mexico and receiving a hero’s welcome in Puerto Rico.

Sanchez has said he is concerned that Ruiz’s new, sudden fame may be too much for him to handle, but he just wants Ruiz to stay motivated.

“Well, I hope he’s not listening to these things that I’ve been saying,” Sanchez said. “Because I’m saying these things kind of to motivate him to get his butt in the gym and stop being a superstar. All those things come with time.”

Ruiz trained under Sanchez through his first world title shot — a December 2016 bout with Joseph Parker for the vacant WBO title, which Ruiz lost on a controversial majority decision. Ruiz now trains under Manny Robles, and Sanchez feels if Ruiz stays focused and doesn’t lose sight of his championships, he’ll be able to handle Joshua again, no matter how much extra motivation the British former unbeaten champion is.

“If he stays in the gym and gets back with Manny and keeps working on the things that Manny has him working on and stays consistent with his training and running then I think he has a good chance of winning,” Sanchez said. “If he doesn’t Anthony Joshua is a very skilled fighter and I know he is not taking the second fight lightly.”

Original Story: Boxing Scene