Will Andy Ruiz Jr. be an enduring champion or go the way of Buster Douglas? We’ll get a better idea about that soon.
Ruiz stunned the boxing world by stopping Anthony Joshua in seven rounds to win three major heavyweight titles in June. He faces Joshua in an immediate rematch on Saturday in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on DAZN.
Douglas turned in arguably the greatest upset ever when he knocked out Mike Tyson to with the heavyweight championship in 1990. In his next fight, he was stopped by Evander Holyfield. That was more or less the end of Douglas as an elite fighter.
“Of course, I don’t want these beautiful belts to go away,” Ruiz said at the final news conference before the fight. “Remember, I’ve been doing this since I was 6. It’s finally paying off, and no way I’m going let these belts go. I’m going to die trying and do anything that’s possible to get that victory.
“It’s been a long journey, long roller coaster in my life, and no way I’m going to let these go Dec. 7. Let the best man win.”
Ruiz discussed his preparations with Chris Mannix of DAZN.
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