• Promoter says negative publicity could help viewing figures • Amnesty International has criticised choice of venueEddie Hearn has defended the decision to stage Anthony Joshua’s WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight title rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr in
Saudi Arabia despite the backlash from human rights organisations – and predicted that the negative publicity could make more people watch the fight.
Amnesty International have been among the groups to accuse the Saudi authorities of trying to “sportswash” their image by paying £83m to take the fight, which is being billed as the ‘Clash of the Dunes’ to Diriyah, on the outskirts of the capital Riyadh, on 7 December.