The Ruiz AJ fight reminds me of those ones we all used to see at school, usually spilling out in the general hallway at break, from some remedial class in an overdue battle of the big boys. The AJ character was a star school athlete, usually shy, but a hit with the girls, with Ruiz being the roly-poly bad boy who looked like he lived on a diet of cigs and chomp bars, but was mean.
I was at my ex wife's mother's wake when that fight happened. It got incredibly stuffy and irritating and I couldn't exactly drive off to watch it. When the men in the family all decided to take a smoke break, I slipped out and found a stream on my phone. It was a poor quality stream and lagging and I had never seen Ruiz fight before, but the video started playing right after Joshua suffered his first knockdown and was receiving a count. I thought surely this must be a prank or a fake stream, but I saw that it was the correct network and the camera zoomed in on Joshua's bewildered face and then panned over to Ruiz. Joshua did not want to be there and had mentally checked out. His body language betrayed his verbal protesting of the stoppage. As you said, it was downright comedic seeing a guy who looked like he could be Gabriel Igelsia's younger brother beating the crap out of a hard hitting clean shaven body builder. The kind of fight you expect to see while getting books out of your locker and someone screams "I've had it with you...!".
How many goddamn calories does he consume a day if his world class professional boxing training can't keep him in shape? 3000? 4000? Is he at the local buffet every evening?
Life by its nature was more active in earlier eras, folk walked rather than drove, if they wished to buy anything they physically had to go face to face with the vendor, if using bank again face to face, labour saving devices were a rarity both in workplace and home, the list goes on. Folk now hardly have to leave house for purchases, banking, entertainment and since Covid for many even work, everything is online. Just look at Usyk despite him being 6'3 and weighing 220 pounds, him not being big enough was mooted in discussions about his ability to be successful at heavyweight, yet he weighed same as Foreman when he faced Ali, so in 21st century for many followers of our sport, they have the bigger is best mantra. "The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights" - Muhammad Ali
Between processed foods, steroids, food abundance, 12 round from 15 round championship fights (allowed for more bull less stamina), weight lifting. It’s allowed for many fat men. There were a few over the years pre 80s like Galento and Mathis but they were few and far between. Most guys were as trim as possible. The same 6”1 fighter today weighs 225-250 when they would weight 195 fifty years ago. No Dr would call a 6”1 man weighing 240 healthy.
So true especially when you think about how all of our meat is injected with all kinds of steroids. Our food is simply different now days. I remember my grandmother telling me that she was lucky to get a full meal a day during the great depression and on most days ate one potato. Today, there are fast food restaurants on every corner. Regarding sports, athletes are simply bigger as well. Compare the size of offensive lineman in the NFL today to guys from the 70's and 80's and you will see a big difference. The Redskins famed Hogs of the 80's were all well under 300 pounds which you simply don't see these days. Boxing is the same. Some folks will say Andy Ruiz is a fat slob but that fat slow has incredibly fast hands and is very athletic for his size.
Well, if this is legitimately recent, Ruiz has shed some significant pounds. Looking good. The man has some seriously fast hands and power. Those earlier photo shopped attempts to pretend Ruiz had lost weight were quite sad though. And when you see articles exclaiming “Andy’s amazing weight loss!” - you wouldn’t think they’re talking a current and elite sports person - rather, you’d be thinking an average Joe or Jane spokesperson for some new fad weight loss program. Aside from perhaps John L, in the latter stages of his reign, Ali probably presented in the worst shape for any HW Champ up to that point in time. A precursor to the fitness challenged crop of the 80s - dance like Ali, jab like Ali, rest like Ali, be fat like Ali. This content is protected
Fatness is just a state of mind. A storm in a man boob D-cup. You’re only as fat as you feel…..the clothes that don’t fit anymore??…, simply shrinkage from the wash, cheap clothing and bad washing powder, yes, of course that that’s it………probably due to some added muscle too, although you haven’t worked out in years……the self rationalisations hold nicely UNTIL you stop by a mirror and think, who’s that FAT basterd? or see recent photos of yourself and then in shock reaction, exclaim …….”Good God, what abomination is this..……could someone not have told me sooner?” You become duly depressed, so much so, you can’t move a muscle, so you eat some more to placate yourself…….it’s a vicious fat building cycle…..
3000 calories for a man that size IF active is not much at all. 4000 if quite active would be roughly at or a little past the minimum to maintain that lard. Assuming it is not all in a couple of big meals.
Well...First off, do not see any stats on how much body fat HWs have today compared to yesterday, but you are likely correct about these causes. However many Doctors would say, correctly, that 6' 1" men can be 240 & healthy. It could be mostly muscle & not a lot of fat-although getting there with steroids/HGH is unhealthy. Or some people are "fat but fit" & their muscular strength, endurance & cardio is better than the vast majority of much lesser weight.
Technically speaking it’s grossly overweight…although I fully admit I could be basing it on old models. It’s just not good for the body frame and heart over the long haul. I understand they can be super healthy for a boxing fight and athletic short term.
It has to also be the food he's eating. I can't imagine if it were 4000 calories of salad, brown rice, lean meat, and fruit that he'd look so incredibly grotesque.
