WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz will fight Anthony Joshua, who was knocked out in New York on June. The brightest revenge of the year will take place in Diriyah Saudi Arabia on December 7.
On June 1, in New York, fat and small Ruiz came out on short notice against the then-main star of heavyweight champion. The Mexican maximally oiled Joshua’s US debut, although this fight was to be an easy walk for him.
But Ruiz knocked out Joshua in the seventh round, arranging the best upset of the year. The Briton and his promoter Eddie Hearn demanded a rematch, but it was not so simple.
Ruiz, who received then the biggest money in his career ($ 5 million), simply did not want to fight Joshua. He expected to earn approximately $13 million. He insisted on the money, and does not agree to give any cent.
But suddenly a group of businessmen from Saudi Arabia became interested in rematch. They offered the boxers $ 100 million, but on one condition – the rematch should take place in their country.
In this rematch, Joshua’s psychological state was explained by the shock of his debut defeat, but when the revenge was officially announced, his further comments left no doubt – he was losing his nerve.
“I need to start taking this approach to my fights where I’m a bit more lively. The stakes are very high. I will enter the ring with a serious attitude, and in the first fight with Ruiz I was relaxed.” Joshua said.
“I survived the mourning due to defeat and asked myself all the questions that you think about. Everyone says that I lost, but I call it an accident. I can’t wait for the opportunity to fight Ruiz.” he added.
