By Tim Parsons-
Anthony Joshua told a packed press conference in London today that he has prevailed against world championship opposition, rather than the cherry picking done by many heavyweight boxers these days.
The former heavyweight world champion who is preparing for his big rematch against Andy Ruiz junior on December 7 said he had made several adjustments in his life as he gets ready to try and reclaim the three belts he dramatically lost to Andy Ruiz Jnr in Newyork last June. As he praised the U.S born Mexican, and hailed him the best heavyweight boxer out there, Joshua promised to get his titles back, running through a list of former world champions he has beaten before his unbeaten run was ruined by the unfancied Ruiz, whom he admitted ”can fight”.
Listing the high calibre opponents on his resume, he said: “Wladimir Klitschko? Champion. Joseph Parker? Champion. Alexander Povetkin? Champion,” he said. “Now I’m fighting another champion in Andy Ruiz.
“My challenges and my fights are never cherry-picking. They are the elite of the elite, the top of the crop.
“Right now, in my opinion, Andy Ruiz is the best heavyweight out there.
“Everyone knows it was important to overlook fighters because we wanted the fight with the WBC champion [Deontay Wilder]. But I don’t have to overlook Ruiz Jr.
“I’ll walk to the ring, probably jog to the ring this time, crack my neck and clench my fists, and when that bell goes we’re going to get down and dirty and handle business.”
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Joshua defended his decision to go straight into the rematch without a warm up fight , saying fighting was what he was born to do. He wished Ruiz Jnr luck and a good camp, adding that the best man will win in December. Joshua was unbeaten in 22 fights when Andy Ruiz crashed his dreams in brutal fashion, knocking him down four times before the referee was forced to stop the fight in one of the most shocking upsets in recent times. After disagreements between both camps about where to stage their highly anticipated rematch, Saudi Arabia , notorious for human rights abuses, was chosen as the venue to stage this big fight.
The oil rich kingdom which is desperate to improve its image, will be the centre of attention in a few months time, as both men fight for the top spot.
Joshua’s claim that his conqueror is the best fighter out there will be strongly disputed by the big punching U.S WBC champion, Deontey Wilder, who has never lost in 41 fights(39 Ko’s) and is waiting for a unification fight with the winner. The winner will first be mandated to defend against IBF mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev, setting up a blockbuster meeting with Wilder later in 2020, assuming the dangerous American defeats both Luis Ortiz and Tyson Fury, both of whom he will face before meeting the winner of Joshua and Andy Ruiz.
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Pulev will not be given a chance by either Anthony Joshua or Andy Ruiz Jnr, neither will his name come up in any serious talk about the heavyweights in the mix that excite boxing fans.Andy Ruiz Jr explains how his shock win over Anthony Joshua changed his life
Ruiz Jr, who has always mentioned his kids as a big source of motivation for him said: “I still have that hunger. I just got these belts. You think I want to lose them already? Hell no.
“I look heavy, I look big, but I always had the mindset that I’d be the first Mexican heavyweight champion.”
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