By Jake Donovan
After two months of a promoter taking the initiative to speak on his behalf, Anthony Joshua’s voice is finally heard.
The former unified heavyweight titlist has been relatively quiet following the lone loss of his career, a shocking 7th round knockout of California’s Andy Ruiz this past June at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The feat marked one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight title fight history, generating a swarm of buzz in the aftermath—notably Ruiz (33-1, 22KOs) becoming the first-ever Mexican boxer to win a heavyweight title—all while spoiling the celebrated United States debut for England’s Joshua.
Since then have come constant updates from promoter Eddie Hearn on when and where a sequel could take place, although never any closer to being finalized than when first teased nearly two months ago. Joshua’s lone public comment in that period came days after his first career defeat, announcing through his social media channels that he had in fact exercised a rematch clause in their contract, with no desire to take an interim fight.
The boxer’s silence was finally broken when speaking with Sky Sports in the United Kingdom to discuss the topic for himself.
“Ruiz, I've seen he's done a lot of talking about what he wants, but he don't call the shots in that sense; it's a team effort," Joshua (22-1, 21KOs) told the UK news outlet on Tuesday, regarding his conqueror’s desire to have the fight once again take place in the U.S. “It's fine, I don't mind fighting him in America, I've done it before, and I'd love to fight (in the United Kingdom) because I had no reason to go (to the U.S.) in the first place.”
The statement doesn’t quite align with the weeks-long insistence claiming on his behalf that there existed a burning desire to return to the scene of the crime to exorcise such demons.
Sports streaming service DAZN-USA—whom presented the first fight—would prefer for the rematch to take place stateside, as it figures to fare better for its business model, particularly in generating new subscribers along with retaining its current base.
As the leading promoter in the U.K., Hearn has insisted for his own personal reasons that his preference would be for the rematch to take place on his side of the Atlantic but that it was ultimately Joshua’s decision.
It seems that his star client also prefers a regional game as well.
“I went to (the U.S.) off my own back, so for the rematch now, I would love it to be in Cardiff (Wales), insisted Joshua, who has twice played to capacity crowds north of 75,000 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, which is believed to be the frontunner to land the fight and likely on Dec. 14. “However, (if) it's going to be on neutral ground—Ruiz is the champ, we'll kind of make some calls as well in that situation.”
“But I'm going to battle for it to be in the UK, because it's my stomping ground. I done one out there (in the U.S.), so let's do the rematch here. I think it will be amazing before the year is out and I'll definitely be having a lovely New Year’s (celebration) with my family.”
Ruiz has voiced his displeasure in claims that he doesn’t have a say in when and where such a fight would take place. He accepted the first fight on short notice, replacing Brooklyn’s Jarrell Miller who tested positive for multiple banned substances. With the assignment came contractual terms that grant Joshua’s side certain concessions for a rematch.
The long delay in finalizing terms for part two has been attributed to a number of reasons, in recent weeks also mentioning that Ruiz’s needs are to be respected regardless of whom has the final say. As much has been echoed by Joshua, who understands the significance of “anytime, any place, anywhere” in a fallen king reclaiming his throne.
Still, the 2012 Olympic Gold medalist—who accomplished as much at home in London—would love nothing more to accomplish the feat in an already established kingdom.
“You've got two ends of it… I'd fight in Tijuana and Ruiz's uncle could be the referee and I would still whoop him,” vows Joshua. “It don't matter to me where it is, there's that aspect.
“Then there's the other aspect of the British fans that have been riding with me from day one want to see me get them belts back. Walking out in Cardiff in front of … 90,000 people screaming and rooting for you to win, that type of energy that goes through your body is unstoppable, and I think that could give me that little bit of edge I need to win those belts."
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
