The Mexican shocked with his victory in June and says there will be ‘no friends’ and ‘no respect’ when the pair meet again
Andy Ruiz Jr knows. Knows people sneer that he got lucky in June when his left fist clattered into Anthony Joshua’s temple like a wrecking ball, discombobulating not only his opponent but the millions watching. Knows that many in the trade believe he has got lazy since becoming the first Mexican to win a world heavyweight title. Knows, too, that most expect his Cinderella reign to end as abruptly as Buster Douglas’s did after he shocked Mike Tyson.
But as Ruiz begins training camp for his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight rematch against Joshua in
Saudi Arabia on 7 December, he insists he is even hungrier now. “I’m still a nice guy,” he says. “I still respect Anthony Joshua. I’m still a fan of what he has done in boxing. But inside the ring, as I’ve told him, there’s no friends, there’s no respect, it’s just me and you, trying to rip each other’s face off. In my eyes, when I’m in the ring I feel he’s there trying to take my kids’ Cheerios, their fruit juice. That’s what gives me the extra motivation.”