Photos: Diriyah Season
Heavyweight World Champion Andy Ruiz Jr has vowed to “make history again” as he landed in Saudi Arabia for the Clash On The Dunes, bringing his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO title belts with him. Ruiz followed his challenger Anthony Joshua into the Kingdom, touching down at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in the early hours of today to set up his own training camp to prepare for the epic bout on December 7.
The first-ever Heavyweight World Title fight to take place in the Middle East will be staged in the custom-built 15,000 seat Diriyah Arena which is now ready for action in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the home of heroes and kings.
When asked how he felt about boxing in the Kingdom for the first time, Andy Ruiz said: “It feels good. You know I made history in New York and I’ll make history again in Saudi Arabia.”
Joshua will be looking to regain the title belts on the line after losing them to Ruiz – known as ‘The Destroyer’ – at their first meeting in New York earlier this year.
With hundreds of fans from throughout the US traveling for the bout, the collective number of miles traveled by Americans is a significantly larger commitment than any other fans from across the world, with tickets sold in 60 different countries. But his fans will have to their work cut out to match the volume of Joshua’s followers with thousands flying in from the UK.
What a cool oppurtunity to see the world for this young man from Imperial City, CA! Cruising around Riyadh like he’s royalty! He is royalty, he’s the Heavyweight King! For now anyway…I think Joshua is going to reclaim his crown by a close decision.
I agree. I feel too many people forget how Joshua was looking like he was in his way to a dominant win until he got caught. It happens so often in the heavyweight division. Joshua has the skills and ability to win big in this rematch. Nobody knows his game plan, wether he tries to box his way or tries to out muscle him again. He doesn’t seem like he has the right mindset right now but everyone changes in the ring.
I have no idea who will win but if AJ wins, you know there will be a 3rd fight somewhere down the road. So for Andy, it’s a win win even with a loss.
No doubt….Andy’s already a winner. Even if he loses twice more to AJ he’s won the right to bigger fights and pay days going forward. The only loser here is Jarell Miller.
Will we ever see Ruiz in the best condition pissible ? And in his best top shape possible??
I’d like to see Andy come in between 225-235, however one thing about Andy, is that even at the high weights he’s fighting at, he has above average stamina.
I think Ruiz is one of those guys who is naturally fat and his performance isn’t affected by his weight. When I first saw him fight, in what I believe was his 2nd pro fight, he weighed 300 lbs and was enormous! I was blown away by his handspeed and ability to throw 6-8 combos. He’s lost considerable weight since then and even more for this fight. I wouldn’t want to see him lose any more.
I know it’s not an accurate analogy because even with the weight loss, Ruiz is still fighting at heavyweight, but I always watched smaller heavyweights like Herbie Hide, Chris Byrd, and Eddie Chambers and thought those guys would dominate if they fought at Cruiserweight. Well, they all did and it didn’t work out for any of them! They all lost to inferior fighters at a lower weight. By no means is any one suggesting Ruiz go down to the Cruiserweights, haha! Can you imagine? He’d die of starvation! But I am anti Ruiz losing more weight. He ain’t never gonna be a svelte, chisseled up heavyweight. He’s Fat Andy!
He’s doing well so far. Why change it?
On December 7…..
Call me an oddity, but I think Andy Ruiz will cruise his way to another victory with mediocre resistance. AJ may have his mind made up he is going “all out” to win here and convince the media and spectators, but words are easily spoken rather than actions. AJ has never encountered a fighter like Ruiz. Someone young, fast hands, quick counters, and most of all, a fighter who has already exposed the recipe to beat AJ. AJ jumped right back into this fight with no tune ups. I think AJ’s emotions are running high rather than his boxing skills in this rematch. I view Andy’s counters peppering AJ’s face and body all night when the bell sounds. Folks, history will repeat itself. AJ may have a puncher’s chance and that’s about it. His robotic boxing skills and slower reflexes costed him his belt the last time. Ruiz, in my opinion, knows it only takes a round or two to figure out AJ’s openings on those counters and it will happen. Sorry, but my opinion…….
Winky Wright-Shane Mosley II repeat?
I think and truly believe the same Doo.
Also the difference in chin reliability could play a heavy role in this fight.
Aj is a good boxer,just stay behind the jab and use his power punch when ruis opens up.AJ all the way
The difference is in the trainers. And Ruiz’s is much better. Ruiz will make AJ quit again.
Allot of People are going to be upset come December 8th. AJ TKO 10
Andy knows deep down in his heart Joshua had an off night. That the fairy tale is coming to a close. That Cinderella once again is becoming a pauper. But he enjoyed the ride for 6 months and is a nice enough and respectful guy. You can’t help but feel for him………………tsk tsk. lol
Does not matter if Andy knows deep down if AJ had an off night. The point is clear. AJ has a problem with counter punches when somebody times them well. Plus, we know AJ has a suspect chin. A suspect chin is not from an “off night”, but from a person’s natural structure within the 10th cranial nerve within the skull to the jaw when trauma is carried out. We will see if AJ has an “off night” when he gets cracked again with one of those right counters.
He had an off night because Ruiz made him have an off night. His night started out just fine and looked like he was on his way to a 1st round KO. Then he was met with speed and volume that he had probably never seen before. Joshua may deny it, but I think he took Ruiz lightly. How could he not have? It seems like a lot of people that are in the fight game don’t do their homework. I’m sure they were aware who Ruiz was, a fat Mexican contender that lost to Joseph Parker, but I doubt if they knew how good he really was. Joshua got caught, plain and simple. That has haunted him and forced him to reinvent himself for this fight, which should be very interesting. I say Joshua fights a cautious, measured fight, will rely heavily on his jab and movement and try to capitalize on his reach advantage. Boxing 101 really, but I think he’ll regain his title.
Six months is not enough time for Joshua to make the necessary adjustments. He always has a punchers chance from outside.
The problem is Andy can counter and fight inside with superior hand speed. Also, Andy l’s heart is bigger than AJ. He got caught and fought back. AJ got caught and quit. AJ is the bully in the school yard.
Simple plan for Joshua in this fight,stick and move,don’t get caught up in a “fight “with Ruiz,he’ll knock you bigtime…..jab,jab and tie Ruiz up if possible… should be interesting…..KO Ruiz,points Joshua !!
You pointed out “tie Ruiz up if possible”. Basically, to me, that means holding since the fighter does not know how to effectively box on the inside with limited skills. AJ could learn how to laterally slip, move his head, shoulder roll, and effectively block rather than hold and risk getting a point taken for such garbage. John Ruiz and the Klitschkos were notorious for holding when they were outgunned, tired, rocked, and did not know what to do. Holding is not a skill; it’s a low-end tactic and a cop-out on one’s professional skills.
Just have a feeling Ruiz will end it earlier. AJ will probably try to keep it at a distance, but he isn’t a natural mover. Ruiz will catch AJ again on his shaky chin sooner this time.
I think people forget that AJ can also punch.. the dude has 22 wins with 21 knockouts. Andy Ruiz has plenty of Unanimous decisions and lost a decision to Parker. It’s not like he has wilder power.. it took him a few rounds and a few knockdowns to finally get The win. He didn’t take a few extra rounds before knocking Joshua down again for fun. If he could have done it again the very next round after the first time.. he would have. AJ clearly never recovered by the first knockdown which was caused by one of the problems he has.. he likes to close the show after a knockdown and either gets caught sloppy or punches himself out. Same thing he did against klitchko. If he prepares himself and doesn’t underestimate Ruiz.. he can get the ko. I’m interested in this fight because many people talk as if Ruiz has his number after an exchange that happened right after Ruiz was knocked down that Joshua never recovered from. Before that it was somewhat of a chess match and both were thinking twice about engaging. Joshua should have set him up again instead of jumping in the way that he did. Basically I’m saying that I see many things that Joshua can make improvements on against Ruiz.. if Ruiz tries to walk Joshua down like he did “after” Joshua was hurt the first time. It may not have the same affect because he’s not hurt anymore. But we will see.. I think it will be more competitive than people think.
1. Ruiz can take Joshua’s best shots.
2. Joshua cannot take Ruiz’s.
3. Ruiz will land, and in bunches (again).
4. They both know this.
5. Ruiz KO’s Joshua in 3.
Ha Ha.
Ruiz couldn’t KO AJ the first time, doubt if he can do it second time around.
Thats ok! We’ll just all watch ruiz batter AJ around the ring again brutally, till the ref feels bad for him again and decides to save him….
Ummm…Ruiz ko’d him (KO, TKO, stopped him…all the same). You have watched boxing before, right?
Hasim Rahman 2.0. won’t get to round 5. Fat, out of shape, living the dream. Catagorize him with Charles Martin
Ruiz is fat, but he’s not out of shape! Have you haver seen him tire?…Neither have I. I do agree that Joshua will win, but it’s not going to be easy and not by KO. It shouldn’t have been any major surprise that Ruiz beat him the first time. Ruiz was just turning pro with over 100 amateur fights before Joshua even started boxing! Andy is no one hit wonder and he’s no Charles Martin or Buster Douglas. He may lose this fight, but he’ll be knocking on the heavyweight door for a while!
If he does lose you can bet your bottom dollar he’ll be hunting Joe Parker …..he feels there’s unfinished business there !!
RUIZ BY KNOCK OUT ROUND # 4
Big mistake