Sport shorts: Andy Ruiz Jr admits he ‘ate everything’ and UN calls for Olympic truce at Tokyo 2020

1. Ruiz Jr: I ate everything

After his defeat to Anthony Joshua on Saturday Andy Ruiz Jr admitted that he had not prepared properly for the world heavyweight title rematch.

The Mexican-American boxer scored a stunning win against Joshua in June but was beaten by the Briton in the second fight in Saudi Arabia.

Ruiz Jr weighed in at 20st 3lbs, 15lbs heavier than the first fight, and has now revealed how he let himself go celebrating the win in the first fight.

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He told TMZ Sports: “I think I ate everything… everything. That’s why I gained so much weight. I was having too much fun, I was celebrating too much. Just being with my friends and just celebrating. Drinking a few more Coronas than I should have.”

2. UN urges Olympic truce

The UN General Assembly has called on all states to observe a symbolic truce at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The “Olympic truce” - an ancient Greek tradition calling for the cessation of hostilities before, during and after the Games - would start one week before Tokyo 2020, which begins on 24 July 2020.

A UN statement urged its members to “use sport as a tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the holding of the Games”.

3. Russia complains of ‘hysteria’

Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev says the four-year ban from major international sport is part of “chronic” anti-Russian “hysteria”.

He added: “It is obvious that significant doping problems still exist in Russia, I mean our sporting community. But on the other hand the fact that all these decisions are repeated, often affecting athletes who have already been punished in one way or another, not to mention some other points. Of course this makes one think that this is part of anti-Russian hysteria which has become chronic.”

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4. Arsenal back to winning ways

Arsenal beat West Ham 3-1 last night to secure their first Premier League victory for two months. The win came via an extraordinary nine minutes midway through the second half when they scored three goals. It was the first time in eight years that Arsenal have won a Premier League match on the road from a losing position at half-time.

‘A lot of things to fix’: Arsenal finally win but Ljungberg has work to do

5. Pellegrini future questioned

Last night’s 3-1 home defeat against Arsenal has left question marks over the future of West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini. The Hammers are now just one point above the Premier League relegation zone and according to Sky Sports News West Ham’s owners are discussing Pellegrini’s future at the club.

6. Rory turns down Saudi event

Rory McIlroy has ruled out playing in next month’s European Tour event in Saudi Arabia. When asked why he turned down the Saudi International, the world No.2 told the Golf Channel: “I’d rather play a couple of events on the west coast [of the USA] and not have to travel all the way to Saudi Arabia. It’s just not something that would excite me. There’s a morality to it as well.”

7. North eyes 100 caps and try record

Wales winger George North is targeting 100 international caps and Shane Williams’s national try scoring record, the BBC reports. North has 39 tries in 91 games for Wales and is third on the try-scoring list behind Gareth Thomas (40) and Williams (58).

The 27-year-old said: “For anyone to say they have played 100 times for your country, nobody could ever take that away or doubt you were a half-decent player. I want to chase down Shane as hard as I can, but I know that will be a tough ask.”

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8. Cavendish excited to join new cycling team

British cyclist Mark Cavendish will be one of the star names on Bahrain McLaren’s squad when the new team makes its debut next year.

Cavendish, a 30-time Tour de France stage winner, said: “I’m fortunate to have raced for some of the biggest teams in cycling. You see little things at different teams and you realise: ‘Ah, that makes them successful.’

“When you can come to a relatively new team but a whole new philosophy on a team and you see all of those things in one place, it gets you quite excited.”

9. Man Utd and Real eye Van de Beek

There’s a “transfer twist” in the tussle to sign Donny van de Beek with reports that Manchester United are set for a “battle” with Real Madrid. The two clubs have both been linked to the Ajax star in recent months and it is claimed that United are “keen” on landing the midfield maestro.

10. Judgement day for Liverpool and Chelsea

Eight teams have already qualified for the Champions League round of 16 and the remaining spots will be decided in the final group games tonight and tomorrow.

Manchester City and Tottenham confirmed their places in the last 16 after the matchday five fixtures and tonight Liverpool and Chelsea will hope to join their Premier League rivals in the next round.

Liverpool need a point from their away trip to Red Bull Salzburg in order to qualify from group E, while Chelsea must beat Lille to qualify from group H.

Today’s back pages

‘No excuses’ for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Russia is banned after ‘biggest sports scandal ever’

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