Andy Ruiz Jr fired back at a heckler during his tense stand-off with Anthony Joshua ahead of their rematch on Saturday.
Shut Down
The two heavyweights will meet for the second time in Saudia Arabia on Saturday 7 December, just six months after Joshua’s shock defeat to the Mexian-American in Madison Square Garden, New York.
Ruiz Jr and Joshua met for the final press-conference before their second meeting in the ring, with both fighters looking in peak physical condition and expressing confidence that they’ll record a historic win.
During the stand-off a Joshua fan began to heckle Ruiz Jr by shouting ‘two-time’, implying that AJ would be reclaiming the belts on Saturday night to become the world heavyweight champion for a second time.
Ruiz Jr fired back in style, and defiantly responded ‘And still’ without breaking eye contact with Joshua.
Contender
AJ will be the contender on Saturday for the first time since his 16th professional fight, and the Watford-born superstar explained how strange it feels not to be defending a title.
“It’s interesting to be on this side of the table. In my 16th fight I challenged, then I challenged Klitschko and Parker, and now for the fourth time,” Joshua said.
“You always need a challenger’s mind-set. I said that with the belts around my waist.”
“Hungry, determined, focused on the goal.”
“The focus was always there but I have had a chance to reflect. Olympics, British title, world title, boom boom boom.”
“I fought Majidov, Whyte, Molina, Povetkin and sparred with Little and Wach. I’ve been around the block.”
“I didn’t lose heart or fire in my belly. There is no fear in my heart, my eyes or my mind.”
“Will it be a special moment? No because I know I belong there. When I regain the belts I will keep cool, and keep a challenger’s mind-set and move onto the next target.”
Strategy
Ruiz Jr’s speed and power proved to be the edge in the first encounter, when he took the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles for his own. But Joshua has undergone an intense physical transformation, and the current champion is expecting his challenger to come into the rematch with a different game-plan.
Ruiz Jr said: “AJ will come with a different game plan and I know he is prepared, so I will be more cautious,”
“He lost weight and will try to box me around. I don’t want to let these beautiful belts go.”
“Now that I finally made my dreams come true, there is no way I will let them go.”
The 30-year-old heavyweights will do the rest of their talking in the ring, and come Saturday we will know whether Ruiz Jr’s heckler was right.
(Featured image source: Instagram/ Andy Ruiz Jr)