This Saturday night on DAZN, Anthony Joshua defends the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles against Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden. The two fighters met up today in New York for their final press conference.
Ruiz (32-1, 21 KO) came in on short notice to replace Jarrell Miller, and says he feels the timing is perfect.
“I’ve been waiting for this all my life. I’ve been training so hard since my last fight. This came at perfect timing, to fight against Anthony Joshua,” he said.
“Those belts look really shiny, really good. I’m just ready. I’m ready to become the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world. Those belts have never been in Mexico, but they’re going to be. I don’t have anything bad to say about Anthony Joshua. I’m a fan of him and I respect him. But in the ring, I won’t be a fan and there will be no respect.”
Joshua (22-0, 21 KO) showed the same sort of respect for Ruiz, selling no bad blood or anything of the sort.
“Fighting Andy, for me, is just as dangerous as fighting Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury. They all possess their own skills. I’ve got to take Andy deadly serious,” he said. “I don’t overlook him at all. I respect him, I respect his whole team. No challenge is easy, no matter what the odds are telling you. Andy’s going got come in here and give me a real fight, cause problems, and it’s down to me to box clever, out-skill, and out-strength Andy and get the win.”