Anthony Joshua: record, next fight and profile →
Eddie Hearn, promoter for Anthony Joshua, has rejected any claim that his boxer will be more vulnerable to power shots with a slimmed down frame. Joshua made good on his promise to weight less for the rematch with IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO world champion Andy Ruiz - as the British star came in at 237-pounds.
Andy Ruiz Jr has hinted that he already has a fight with Deontay Wilder for the undisputed world heavyweight title lined up if he can win his rematch against Anthony Joshua in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. Both Ruiz and Wilder are signed to Al Haymon’s PBC so a deal would be easy to make. And while Wilder has agreed to a rematch with Tyson Fury – which is expected to be announced for February 22 in Las Vegas, although it is yet to be formally announced – Ruiz, the WBA, WBO and IBF champion, claims he has been speaking on the phone with Wilder, the WBC champion, to discuss a future fight.
For the third time in as many career title fights, Andy Ruiz and his team enter as the B-side in terms of promotional representation. Such a disadvantage takes on a new dynamic this time around, as California’s Ruiz (33-1, 22KOs) prepares to defend his slew of heavyweight titles versus England’s Anthony Joshua (22-1, 21KOs) this Saturday at Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The bout comes six months after Ruiz scored one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight title fight history, stopping Joshua in seven rounds this past June in New York City.
Ahead the what many consider to be the biggest heavyweight fight of the decade between Andy Ruiz, Jr. and Anthony Joshua, DAZN collected predictions from fighters, celebrities, and boxing experts. Below is a collection of these predictions which included surprising selections and intriguing insights from some of those who know boxing best.
During the build up of their anticipated, heavyweight title rematch, Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua sat face-to-face in a studio for a face off for British television. Ruiz looked Joshua deep in his eyes and said Joshua quit in the midst of the punishment he was taking after suffering four knockdowns during a seventh-round finish in June.
Filip Hrgovic (9-0, 7 KOs) is weighed in and ready for his WBC International Heavyweight Title defence against former two-time World Title challenger Eric Molina (27-5, 19 KOs) tomorrow night at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia.
Andy Ruiz Jr. thought he would weigh in six or seven hours earlier Friday than when he and Anthony Joshua actually stepped on the scale in Saudi Arabia. By the time arrived for their official weigh-in late Friday afternoon, Ruiz already had eaten multiple meals and drank a lot of water. That’s among the reasons the defending IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO champion didn’t bother taking off his sombrero, clothes or sneakers when it was his turn to get on the scale.
Andy Ruiz weighed a whopping 283.7lb for his heavyweight title rematch with Anthony Joshua at Friday’s weigh-in, having piled on 15lb since he won the title from Joshua in June. Ruiz, who wore a sombrero to the stage, had posted videos early in his training camp for the fight claiming he had slimmed down, but there were no signs of any weight loss when he arrived in Saudi Arabia and rumours on Wednesday said that he would be “the same of a bit higher”.
Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz Rematch Weights Photos Gallery - The biggest fight of the year is now just over 24 hours away. Ahead of tomorrow’s much-anticipated rematch between Andy Ruiz, Jr. and Anthony Joshua OBE, both fighters tipped the scales in front of a raucous crowd in Saudi Arabia. At 283.7 pounds, Ruiz came in at his heaviest weight in many years and 15 pounds heavier than he was for the first fight in June. (photos by Mark Robinson)
Tyrone Spong never managed to make his way to a scheduled Matchroom Boxing-promoted card in October, but did become of use to the company’s star client. A year nearly lost for the unbeaten heavyweight was salvaged when receiving a phone call to serve as a primary sparring partner for former unified heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua. Spong spent most of the fall overseas in England helping Joshua (22-1, 21KOs) prepare for his upcoming rematch with Andy Ruiz, which takes place Dec. 7 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.