Anthony Joshua: record, next fight and profile →
Looks weren’t deceiving. A noticeably lighter Anthony Joshua indeed weighed in at 10-plus pounds less Friday for his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. than he did for their first fight. England’s Joshua officially came in at 237½ pounds for their second bout, set for Saturday night in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
When Oscar De La Hoya is asked to wear his prognosticator hat, his prediction for the rematch between Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua is given to his fellow Mexican countryman. “I think we’re going to have the same result,” said De La Hoya, founder of Golden Boy Promotions. “Andy Ruiz probably has his number. Ruiz is going to get better, faster and stronger. I don’t think Anthony Joshua is going to correct anything.”
Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz Gala Dinner in 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)
A lot has been made this week about a seemingly slimmer Anthony Joshua as the former heavyweight champion completes preparation for his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. The 6-feet-6 Joshua weighed in at 247¾ pounds for his stunning technical-knockout loss to Ruiz on June 1 at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden. Among the adjustments Joshua made during this training camp apparently is to come into their rematch lighter than that, so that he can deal better with Ruiz’s speed.
Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte has given words of encouragement to his former foe and rival Anthony Joshua. Joshua is days away from the biggest fight of his pro career. Back in June, Joshua was dropped four times and stopped in seven rounds by huge underdog Andy Ruiz. The rematch takes place on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia.
Eddie Hearn, promoter for Anthony Joshua, is not in agreement with the ongoing criticisms regarding the decision to bring the rematch with Andy Ruiz to Saudi Arabia. The rematch takes place on Saturday. Writers, media outlets and human rights groups have been very critical of the move - claiming the Saudi authorities are using high profile sporting events to take away the attention from the human rights issues within the country.
The best way for Andy Ruiz Jr to repeat his win over Anthony Joshua is to continue where he left off in June in New York, according to his trainer, Manny Robles. Ruiz makes the first defence of his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles in a rematch with Joshua at Diriyah on Saturday but having dropped Joshua four times in the first fight, the temptgation must be there for Ruiz to try things the same way again.
Anthony Joshua has rejected the claim by IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz - who insists he was never hurt in their first meeting back in June. Ruiz went down in the third round of the contest. When Joshua made an aggressive attempt to finish him off - Ruiz clipped him hard with a counter and the British star never recovered. Joshua went down two times in the same round, and then twice more in the seventh before the fight was waved off.
If there is one person who might be able to recognise how Andy Ruiz Jr feels going into his rematch with Anthony Joshua, it’s Hasim Rahman. It is Rahman’s rematch with Lennox Lewis that is constantly quoted as a source of inspiration by those who feel Joshua will gain revenge, but as Rahman says, Joshua has yet to prove he is anything like the fighter Lewis was.
Anthony Joshua has endured considerable backlash for stating that Andy Ruiz Jr. landed “a punch from the gods” in the third round of their heavyweight title fight. The implication, critics contend, is that Ruiz merely hit him with a lucky shot after Joshua became the first opponent to put the durable Ruiz on the canvas. Ruiz quickly got to his feet after Joshua dropped him with a left hook at the 2:17 mark of the third round.