Veteran coach Manny Robles has been in this position before, when a boxer promised to stay with him until the end - and then unexpectedly decided to part ways.

In June of 2019, Robles helped Andy Ruiz become the first Mexican heavyweight to win a world title, when he dropped Anthony Joshua four times in securing a seventh round TKO to capture the WBA, IBO, WBO, IBF world titles at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

But the December rematch in Saudi Arabia was the complete opposite.

After winning the titles, Ruiz delayed his training and instead partied for two months.

He started camp for the rematch too late and came in out of shape at 283.5-pounds - his highest weight in over a decade. He was sluggish and slow, allowing Joshua to easily outbox him over twelve rounds.

In the weeks that followed, Robles barely heard a word from Ruiz.

Then on Wednesday, Ruiz's father, Andy Ruiz Sr., advised Robles that his services were no longer needed.

"His father had told me after winning the titles that he was going to stay with me until the end, so when the news came I was surprised," Robles said to ESPN Deportes.

“But it's not the first time someone told me that and then this happens... people change their mind, unfortunately this is it, and it has nothing to do with boxing, it's people, and you have to live with that.

“Here in this case, as you well know, after the fight, Andy took responsibility and let the world know that he didn't have the discipline or the desire to stay [in the gym] and prepare for the fight. He apologized both to me and to his dad, but it is surprising [that they let me go] because a lot of things were discussed as a team."

This not the first time Ruiz switched trainers. He had a brief stint with Abel Sanchez, and worked with Freddie Roach at one point and also Jeff Gramoja. Now it appears Roach or Teddy Atlas might take him over.

“It's no secret, that if he focuses and recovers the hunger... then he has the discipline, because Andy has to be a world champion again, he is a fighter that everyone now knows. I knew about his abilities, his technique, his punch and the stamina he has. He is still special, but he has to want it," Robles said.

“For me life goes on, I have my stable, on February 6 I have Oscar Negrete fighting with an Argentine in Indio, California, for a WBA belt, and I have Charles Martin who has an important fight in February, Terrell Gausha, Fabian Maidana, I have a good stable, young fighters who have been pushing and making a name for themselves."