Andy Ruiz: record, next fight and profile →
Andy Ruiz Video Interview - An iconic fight needs a spectacular venue and few can compare to the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia which is now ready for a historic night as the Clash On The Dunes sees World Champion Andy Ruiz Jr take on Anthony Joshua. (photos by Mark Robinson)
A slimline version of Anthony Joshua said he is expecting his rivalry with Andy Ruiz Jr to turn into a trilogy after final revealing that he has lost a significant amount of weight since their first fight in June. Joshua turned up at the public workout in Riyadh having completed his final six rounds of sparring earlier in the day. With the temperature dropping – Ruiz wore a woolly hat during his session – Joshua did barely two minutes of shadow boxing for the crowd before cutting to do an interview.
Bob Arum presided as Andy Ruiz’s promoter throughout the height of the heayweight’s career. Then, earlier this year, Ruiz bought out his contract for $700,000, and parted ways with Top Rank. After Ruiz orchestrated his own free agency, he signed with PBC.
Even if he knocks out Andy Ruiz Jr. in their rematch Saturday night, Anthony Joshua doesn’t think they’ll have seen the last of one another in a boxing ring. The former IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion predicted following an open workout Tuesday in Saudi Arabia that, no matter the outcome of their immediate rematch, he and Ruiz will fight a third time. There is not a clause in their contracts that guarantees a third bout between them, but Joshua considers their styles perfectly suited for repeatedly producing compelling fights.
Anthony Joshua Workout Saudi Arabia Photos Gallery - An iconic fight needs a spectacular venue and few can compare to the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia which is now ready for a historic night as the Clash On The Dunes sees World Champion Andy Ruiz Jr take on Anthony Joshua. (photos by Mark Robinson)
Andy Ruiz Workout Saudi Arabia Photos Gallery - An iconic fight needs a spectacular venue and few can compare to the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia which is now ready for a historic night as the Clash On The Dunes sees World Champion Andy Ruiz Jr take on Anthony Joshua. (photos by Mark Robinson)
Eddie Hearn, promoter for Anthony Joshua, says his boxer must overcome any mental scars from the June TKO defeat at the hands of Andy Ruiz. Ruiz, who accepted the fight on late notice, dropped Joshua four times for a seventh round stoppage to capture the WBO, IBF, WBA, IBO world titles at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
LAS VEGAS – Lennox Lewis wouldn’t predict who would win the Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz Jr. rematch. Lewis did divulge that Joshua will have difficulty withstanding Ruiz’s power once again when they square off Saturday in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The retired heavyweight champion realized just how hard Ruiz punches when he called one of Ruiz’s fights for FOX earlier this year.
Eddie Hearn, promoter of Anthony Joshua, has personally seen a re-lit fire in the mental frame of the British star. Back in June, Joshua seemed mentally exhausted when he dropped four times and stopped in the seventh round by Andy Ruiz at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - Go ahead… ask yourself. When was the last time a fighter who won as a prohibitive underdog suddenly transformed into a smart-money pick – if not exactly a consensus betting favorite – when the time came for a rematch? Call it the Andy Ruiz Jr. story. Circa 2019. For those somehow unaware, the amiable Californian – looking more...