Andy Ruiz Jr. at his heaviest weight in five years

Weight and Andy Ruiz Jr. go hand in hand. When he stepped on the scales yesterday for his heavyweight championship fight, many wondered if he’d weigh less than his last bout.

Not so.

Ruiz tipped the scales at a robust 268 pounds, his most since 2014. So much for him being in the best shape of his life as he attempts to become the first Mexican-American to capture heavyweight gold.

But wait it a minute, perhaps being heavier was on purpose.

“That was the game plan,” Ruiz told reporters in an article from Reuters. “We’re fighting someone big, someone taller than me. So, I want to carry that weight well so my punches are going to hit harder.”

Very interesting. Joshua will bring advantages in height and reach into the ring tonight. He’s also built like an English “Loo.” Ruiz (32-1, 21 KOs) looked sharp last month in dispatching Alexander Dimitrenko. So perhaps there’s a method to his madness.

Weight is the last thing on Joshua’s (22-0, 21 KOs) mind.

“Tomorrow night, I put the titles in the air and they’re up for grabs,” Joshua said. “And me and him go to war. So the best man wins.”

Here here.