Even Dead Trainers Can’t Help Andy Ruiz Jr. if He Doesn’t Want It – Says Former Coach

Andy Ruiz Jr. has had a roller coaster ride in 2019, where he witnessed extreme success and extreme failure.

He became the first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent by knocking out Anthony Joshua for the unified titles in June last year. However, ‘The Destroyer’ lost his titles to AJ in the rematch in December. Since then, Ruiz Jr. hasn’t appeared for a fight. He has also changed his training camp, shifting himself under Canelo Alvarez’s coach, Eddy Reynoso.

That said, his former trainer Manny Robles believes that Andy Ruiz Jr. has all the potential to become a world champion again. Yet he wants to see certain changes in the Mexican’s behavior. If not, Robles believes that no matter which team he joins, Ruiz Jr. won’t be able to win back the titles.

Manny Robles wishes nothing but good for Andy Ruiz Jr.

On Fred Talks Fighting, Ruiz Jr.’s former coach said that he knows the Mexican champion better than anyone else. It is no surprise since Robles has trained ‘The Destroyer’ for a long time. Under his guidance, Andy knocked Joshua.

Thus, Robles says, “I know [Andy Ruiz Jr.] very well. Andy is a great fighter. He has got heart, he can fight, he is not scared of anybody, he is not scared to step up and fight the big fights. But unfortunately, it’s more than that. It’s more than just being a good fighter and having the courage to face anybody.”

He added, “There’s something called discipline in the sport, and if you don’t have that, I don’t care. It doesn’t matter where he trains. You know you can bring back Angelo Dundee and Emmanuel Steward back from the dead and work with Andy. But if the fighter doesn’t want it, it doesn’t matter.”

However, Robles believes that Andy Ruiz is under an excellent team where he can re-shape his heavyweight journey. In Eddie Reynoso’s fight camp, there are several world champions like Canelo Alvarez and Ryan Garcia. Thus, Andy Ruiz Jr. can benefit himself a lot in his new journey.

Talking about it, his former trainer said, “He is with a good team. Canelo and Reynoso and everyone else that’s there. I think they are very good. The coach is a very good coach, obviously, but it’s up to the fighter at the end of the day. Is he capable of becoming a world champion again? I believe so.”

As per reports, Ruiz Jr. will return early next year. He hasn’t finalized his opponents. However, Chris Arreola is one of the possible names on his radar.