What is Anthony Joshua’s biggest problem going into his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr.? According to Ruiz, it’s very simple: He’s better than Joshua.
Ruiz put Joshua down four times and stopped him in seven rounds to shock the boxing world and win three of the four major heavyweight title belts in June in New York. They’ll do it again Dec. 7 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on DAZN.
“He’s going to try to make adjustments,” Ruiz told the U.K.’s Telegraph. “I don’t know if he wants to exchange punches, but I’d love for him to do that because I’m the more skilled boxer. He’ll try to box me round and use his jab. But for how long? How long can he keep me away from hunting him down? That’s what we’ve been working on most of all right now, heading into the fight.
“Fight fans are … going to see a lot of fireworks. If he knocks me down, I’m going to get up and knock him down. I know he’ll try to do the same if I knock him down. The main thing is to stay focused and disciplined.”
Ruiz, who went down himself in the first fight, said he’ll take nothing for granted in the rematch.
“I want to impose myself in this fight,” he said, “but I don’t want to overlook him. He’s still a dangerous fighter. I respect him and all the fighters who risk their lives inside the ring.
“He’s going to have some tricks up his sleeve, and it’s my job to not let that affect me. The main thing is pressure, throw combinations and use my speed. I can’t let him grow balls in there.”