Boxing news: Anthony Joshua receives stark Andy Ruiz warning amid physique criticism

Anthony Joshua will defend his WBA (Super), WBO, IBF and IBO titles against the Mexican-born American at Madison Square Garden in New York early on Sunday morning.

AJ’s American debut was supposed to see him take on Brooklyn’s Jarrell Miller, though a trio of drug tests for ‘Big Baby’ scuppered the eagerly-anticipated bout.

Ruiz was drafted in Miller’s replacement on six week’s notice and much of the build-up to his second world-title fight has been dominated by talk of his physique.

The 29-year-old’s less than aesthetic body has led many to write off his chances of causing an unlikely upset.

Haye believes Ruiz is being unfairly overlooked and has urged the Olympic gold medallist not to take his short-notice opponent lightly.

“If you didn’t know he was a boxer, you could go into any pub and drag a random man out and he would be in better physical condition appearance-wise than Andy Ruiz,” Haye told the Daily Mirror.

“On paper, and in reality, it could be a decent match-up but when you look at a prime athlete standing next to someone who looks like they don’t take their health and fitness seriously, it puts a dampener on the fight.

“I’m fully aware that everyone has a different body shape but there’s body fat and there’s body fat.

“But he only had six weeks’ notice, and ideally for a fight against Joshua you need 12-15 weeks of serious, hardcore preparation.

“He took the opportunity to earn money he will never earn again to fight the best heavyweight on the planet, but believe it or not he is much better than people give him credit for.

“His appearance might actually give him an advantage because people think he’s fat but he turns up and can punch for 12 rounds and grind people down.

“Hopefully Joshua doesn’t look at him and think it’ll be an easy night’s work. As long as Joshua has trained as if he is fighting Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder then he will win the fight pretty easily.”

Should Joshua bring his A-game on Sunday morning, Haye believes the contest won’t go the distance.

He added: “The only chance Joshua has of struggling is if he’s underestimated Ruiz.”

“I think Joshua beats him up pretty conclusively, he has too much firepower. If you strip the unnecessary body fat from Ruiz he would be a cruiserweight.

“He’s not a big guy and if Joshua takes him seriously it will be pretty brutal and quick, probably within four rounds.”