Manny Robles, the head trainer for WBO, IBO, IBF, WBA heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz, was overcome with emotion when his fighter shocked the entire world by stopping Anthony Joshua on June 1.
A huge underdog coming in, Ruiz dropped Joshua four times before the contest was waved off in the seventh round.
Ruiz, once viewed as an out-of-shape no-hoper, is now the unified world champion of the division.
When the fight was finally waved off, Robles quickly understood that history had been made.
"All the joy and all the pain came out,” Robles explained to The Guardian. “Everything comes out when you’re jumping for joy and screaming that we shocked the world. I knew we had made history. Andy had become the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world. But now I think everybody, of all ethnicities and backgrounds, from all over the world, won. We identify more with Andy – although Joshua’s a great guy and an unbelievable athlete.
“Most of us have more in common with Andy. Looking at Andy we’re looking at ourselves and seeing that anything is possible. We have children being bullied for being overweight or for the colour of their skin. It’s horrible. But Andy’s story is a lesson in hope. He had to endure being harassed because he doesn’t have a Joshua-type body. He’s been teased for his looks. He’s been doubted his whole life because Andy’s always been overweight.”
A rematch is now on the cards.
Joshua exercised his right to have an immediate rematch, which is being targeted for the fall.
“Andy’s the world champion so we have to make sure he stays disciplined and grounded. My job is to keep him in line and remind him what got him here. I know Andy will listen. We’ve been through too much to give it all up,” Robles said.