Parker criticises Ruiz Jnr for his physical condition after losing titles to Joshua

Former heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker has joined the chorus of voices criticising Andy Ruiz Jr for his physical condition after he lost his titles to Anthony Joshua in yesterday's rematch in Saudi Arabia. 

Joshua out-boxed Ruiz to a unanimous decision win to regain the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles after the Briton was stunned earlier this year with a technical knockout loss in June to the Mexican boxer.

Ruiz entered the ring weighing in at 128kg – seven kilos heavier than his first fight against Joshua.

Parker, who beat Ruiz in 2016 to win the WBO title, told Radio Sport after yesterday's fight that Ruiz had no excuses for his shape.

Parker says that he thinks Ruiz got comfortable being the unified champion of the world and lost his eyes on the major prize.

Parker did ease up on his criticism though, offering some insight and a possible reason for Ruiz's weight gain.

He says if a person comes from a struggled life or from nothing at all, and then all of a sudden he becomes the unified champion, some times people went off track a bit.

ADVERTISEMENT