Team Ruiz: Just Hoping We Get A Fair Shake

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.

That bout was conducted under the auspices of the New York State Athletic Commission, a long-established entity. The rematch will take place in front of a newly formed commission, not too dissimilar to his lone career loss, a majority decision at the hands of Joseph Parker in their Dec. 2016 vacant title fight which was fought under the then-brand new Professional Boxing Commission New Zealand in Auckland, New Zealand.

“It’s been my concern since day one,” Manny Robles, Ruiz’s head trainer revealed during a recent media conference call to discuss the upcoming rematch.

“We’re in a country that doesn’t have a boxing commission. It’s not a boxing nation, they don’t have experience. It definitely has to be a concern. God willing, whoever is in charge, they do the right thing and make the right call.

“That’s all we can do is hope… hope and pray that we don’t get the short end of the stick. All we ask is that it’s fair, that it’s a level playing field.”

Such matters were supposed to be hashed out in advance of the fight, when Ruiz and his team were renegotiating terms with Hearn for their contractually obligated rematch. Concerns over fighting in Saudi Arabia were alleviated with the assurance of random drug testing—as contracted through Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA)—and with each side permitted to hire representation to assist with the local commission and ensure a smoothly run show especially for a fight of this magnitude.

Already confirmed to be involved with the event is Robert Smith, general secretary for the British Boxing Board of Control.

Ruiz’s side had the option of handpicking any commission executive in the United States or the location of its choosing. BoxingScene.com has learned that the choice made wasn’t quite as impactful as the options that were made available. It explains, in part, the selection of the ring officials, including referee Luis Pabon whose reputation doesn’t exactly ring proudly throughout the industry.

The three judges for the bout will be England’s Steven Gray, Connecticut’s Glenn Feldman and Canada’s Benoit Russell.

"I’m hoping we just get a fair shake,” notes Robles. “This isn’t our show. It’s the Anthony Joshua show. It’s his promoter, Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn. I’m hoping we get a fair shake, that the judges call the right fight, that the referee gives us a fair shake.

“May the best man win but we hope the judges make the right call if it comes of that.”

The scheduled 12-round title fight will air live on Sky Sports Box Office in the United Kingdom and stream live on DAZN-USA, with an expected main event start time of roughly 3:45pm ET.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox