New York

Anthony Joshua Weighs 247, Andy Ruiz Scales 268, Eight Lbs. More Than April Bout

Published

June 1, 2019

Michael Woods

Anthony Joshua Weighs 247, Andy Ruiz Scales 268, Eight Lbs. More Than April Bout

Confession: I was a bit bummed seeing the 268 when Andy Ruiz, the Snickers loving heavyweight hitter from Cali, stepped on the scale in NYC on Friday, the day before he was to engage in the stiffest and by far most enriching bout of his fighting life.

This wasn't a career high for the 32-1 hitter, but 268 is not maybe what we'd have expected, being that he was 262 on April 20 for his fight with Alexander Dimitrenko. Ruiz started out as a 300 pounder, when debuting in 2009.

Now, can't judge that book by that cover. But certainly, in the optics department, 268 is something of a scale fail. A message would have been sent, arguably, if he was ten pounds lighter than he'd been in the Dimi win.

That aside, the weight issue will be a non issue, I think, if the boxer, a massive underdog, gives a decent account of himself at Madison Square Garden, and on DAZN, this evening.

Here is the release for the weigh in:

NEW YORK, May 31, 2019 – Heavyweight king Anthony Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) of the United Kingdom and dangerous Mexican challenger Andy Ruiz, Jr. (32-1, 21 KOs) tipped the scales a day ahead of the heavyweight battle where Joshua will make his U.S. debut and will defend his IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO World Heavyweight Championship titles against Ruiz on Saturday, June 1, at Madison Square Garden and exclusively on DAZN.

The main card bouts also stepped on the scale which will feature undefeated WBA Super Middleweight World Champion Callum Smith (25-0, 18 KOs) making his first title defense against former Middleweight World Champion Hassan N’Dam (37-3, 21 KOs). Earlier in the evening, Katie Taylor (13-0, 6 KOs) will face Delfine Persoon (43-1, 18 KOs) to crown the undisputed World Female Lightweight Champion. Taylor owns the IBF, WBA and WBO titles, while Persoon holds the WBC strap. Former World Champion Chris Algieri (23-3, 8 KOs) returns as he takes on Tommy Coyle (25-4, 12 KOs) for the vacant WBO International Super Lightweight Title, Joshua Buatsi (10-0, 8 KOs) makes his U.S. debut against Marco Antonio Periban (25-4-1, 16 KOs), and Josh Kelly (9-0, 6 KOs) faces off against Ray Robinson (24-3-1, 12 KOs).

Boxing on DAZN begins at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 1, with the main event starting at 10:00 p.m. ET.

12-Round Heavyweight Championship Bout

Anthony Joshua – 247.0 lbs.

Andy Ruiz, Jr. – 268.0 lbs.

12-Round WBA Super World Middleweight Title Bout @ 168 lbs.

Callum Smith – 167.6 lbs

Hassan N’Dam – 166.0 lbs.

10-Round Female Lightweight Unification Title Bout @ 135 lbs.

Katie Taylor – 134.6 lbs.

Delfine Persoon – 130.6 lbs.

10-Round WBA International Welterweight Title Bout @ 147 lbs.

Josh Kelly – 146.4 lbs.