By Craig Daly: Andy Ruiz Jr’s dad was on a scouting run on Wednesday, intently watching Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz during his workout in front of the media.

If Ruiz’s dad had his eyes open, he would have seen Ortiz (33-2, 28 KOs) showing a lot of Anthony Joshua type of movement.

During the workout, Ortiz looked like he had perfectly replicated the type of mobility that Joshua employed to defeat Ruiz in their rematch in December 2019.

The question is, can Ortiz stay mobile the entire 12 rounds without gassing out? Given that Ortiz comes from the Cuban national team, you have to believe he’s tested himself in training camp.

It’s pretty obvious from watching Ortiz’s workout that he plans on following the Joshua blueprint to stay at range to neutralize the speedy counter-punching ability of Ruiz. Although Ruiz was much heavier for the second fight with Joshua than he is now, his movements haven’t improved despite the weight loss.

The fact of the matter is the portly 6’2″, 260+ lb Ruiz lacks the foot speed to get to his taller opponents, that keep the fight at a distance, using their jab to pick him apart the way Joshua and Joseph Parker successfully did.

“If this ends in a knockout, it ends in a knockout. My only goal is to be victorious,” said Andy Ruiz Jr to DAZN. “I’m in shape to go 12 hard rounds. We’re going to go in there and leave it all in the ring.

“I’m proof that anything is possible if you work hard and stay disciplined. The main thing right now is just accomplishing our goal Sunday night and leaving the ring with my hand raised.”

“All the hard work and dedication is over. The main thing is to show up and show out and do my best to get the victory,” said Ruiz Jr to the media.

“I see it being a technical fight, especially with me, the things that we’ve been practicing. I’m not just going in there to look for the knockout. I got more skills than that.

“I’m going in there being cautious, being careful, and being ready for whatever he brings because I’m a good counter puncher as well. I’m not just going in there to pressure and go for the knockout.

“If the knockout comes, it comes, but I’m ready for all 12 rounds if it goes that way,” said Ruiz Jr.