Getty/Richard Heathcote
Andy Ruiz Jr.
Andy Ruiz Jr. says he "partied for three months" in the build up to losing his world titles to Anthony Joshua on Saturday, causing him to pile on 15 pounds from the pair's previous bout.
It has seen the Mexican attract heavy scrutiny for the weight gain, including from former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, Joshua himself, and rapper LL Cool J.
The New York born MC, a self professed boxing fan, told TMZ he was disappointed to see the Mexican fighter have his championship reign brought to an end so swiftly, but that a lack of self discipline was ultimately his downfall.
"I got respect for [Ruiz]," the 51-year-old said. "[But] you can't come into the ring 16 pounds heavier!
"At the end of the day when you step in the ring you gotta be ready. And, if you're not ready for whatever reason it doesn't matter, you win or you lose. And he wasn't ready."
The "Mama Said Knock You Out" rapper, who has often been seen ringside at Las Vegas fights, added: "Part of being great at anything is having the discipline to stay focused when you're successful."
Lewis made his comments about Ruiz's weight on Twitter.
"Just saw [Ruiz] saying not being fully prepared and in shape for rematch could have happened to anyone," said the Brit.
"Not true. That's a bad excuse. One person was serious about those belts and the other wasn't. Simple as that!"
Joshua beat Ruiz comprehensively in Saudi Arabia at the weekend, winning back his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles after a 12-round decision.
But while the Englishman was mostly humble in victory, he still labelled Ruiz's reasoning for the defeat as "excuses."
"I would have loved to have trained the way Andy trained!" Joshua, told ITV's Good Morning Britain, referencing his opponent's alleged preparations. "I would've loved that but that's not the way of a champion.
"He knows his mistakes, whatever they were or maybe they're excuses, he just needs to go out there and get it right and come back again."
Joshua will most likely fight his IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev next, promoter Eddie Hearn told ESPN, whilst Ruiz could take on either Dominic Breazeale or Gerald Washington, says DAZN.
Read more:
Anthony Joshua criticized Andy Ruiz Jr for making 'excuses' after the Mexican fighter said he prepared for their rematch with '3 months of partying'
Andy Ruiz Jr. says he lost his world titles to Anthony Joshua because he was undertrained, overweight, and partied for 3 months
A nervous Anthony Joshua exorcised his New York humiliation by outboxing Andy Ruiz Jr. to win his world titles back in style
Saudi Arabia's Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua fight is littered with athletes who have been busted for drug use
The $100 million Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua fight is 'masking a darker truth' in Saudi Arabia, and boxing is burying its head in the sand
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