Anthony Joshua offered Andy Ruiz Jr after Dillian Whyte failed drug te
Anthony Joshua’s former rival Andy Ruiz Jr offers to step in for Dillian Whyte on August 12 after the Body Snatcher’s ‘adverse findings’ in drug test
- Joshua was due to fight Dillian Whyte in all-British rematch of their bout in 2015
- The bout was cancelled after an ‘adverse finding’ in one of Whyte’s drugs tests
- Andy Ruiz Jr wants to replace Whyte and fight Joshua in London next weekend
In a surprise twist, Anthony Joshua could face former rival Andy Ruiz Jr on August 12 after the collapse of his rematch with Dillian Whyte.
Whyte failed a drug test for the third time in his career, ruling him out of his all-British fight with AJ, denying him the chance to avenge his 2015 loss and forcing Joshua to find an emergency stand-in.
As Joshua’s camp scramble to fix a replacement a surprise contender has emerged in the form of Andy Ruiz Jr.
The American pulled off one of boxing’s biggest ever upsets when he beat Joshua at Madison Square Garden in 2019, but lost on points in a rematch to the Brit just six months later.
Now Ruiz is eyeing up a trilogy fight with AJ after Saturday’s bout was cancelled following an ‘adverse finding’ in one of Whyte’s drugs tests.
Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Dillian Whyte has been cancelled after an ‘adverse finding’ in one of Whyte’s pre-fight drugs tests
Ruiz Jr stunned the world by stopping AJ in 2019, but lost the rematch six months later. He has now called for a trilogy bout
The Destroyer said on Instagram: ‘Eddie Hearn, Joshua, I think I’ve found a new replacement – again!
‘Let’s run it back. Let’s get the trilogy. Let’s get it.’
Ruiz Jr stopped Joshua in the seventh round to become world heavyweight champion but lost his belts after Joshua’s points win in Saudi Arabia.
He has since fought veterans Luis Ortiz and Chris Arreola but is eyeing a return to the big leagues.
Currently Gerald Washington is the frontrunner to land the Joshua fight, as per Sun Sport, but Ruiz will hope his history with the Brit may tip the scales in his favour.
Whyte has vowed to prove his innocence and released a statement about his failed test that said: ‘I am shocked and devastated to learn of a report by VADA of adverse findings relating to me.
‘I only learned of it this morning and am still reacting to it.
‘I have also just seen the fight is being cancelled without having any chance to demonstrate my innocence before the decision was taken.
Joshua and Whyte fought a grueling contest in 2015, with AJ winning by KO in the seventh
‘I can confirm without a shadow of a doubt that I have not taken the reported substance, in this camp or at any point in my life.
‘I am completely innocent and ask to be given the time to go through the process of proving this without anybody jumping to conclusions or a trial by media.’
This is the third time he has failed a drug test in his career as the Body Snatcher was banned for two years after testing positive for a prohibited stimulant in 2012.
He also tested positive for metabolites of the anabolic steroid Dianabol in 2019 but was exonerated of any wrongdoing by UKAD due to the ‘extremely low’ levels of the drug found in his system.
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