Fight Hub TV was able to catch up with Andy Ruiz earlier today following his final press conference in London, announcing his December 7th rematch with Anthony Joshua. Check out what Ruiz had to say on his thoughts on the fight...
Ruiz on being up-close-and-personal with Joshua during their press tour, and what he sees when he looks in to his eyes:
“It’s kinda exhausting going from country to country but, you know, this is part of the game and Anthony Joshua is a good guy, he’s a great guy, just like me, so I think we both have respect for each other outside of the ring. But inside of the ring there’s not gonna be no respect, no friends...it’s go time.”
On fighting in Saudi Arabia:
“We didn’t know it was gonna be over there. My team and his team were negotiating to see where it was gonna be at and thanks to Al Haymon and PBC we made an agreement, and we took the fight in Saudi Arabia. Best place and historic place where a lot of historic things happened. I made historic things so it’s the perfect way to go over there in Saudi Arabia and make history all over again.”
On how his life has changed since beating Joshua in June:
“It changed everything. It changed a lot, not just for me but for family’s life, my kid’s life, we don’t have to really struggle no more how we were by paying the bills, the rent, you know, stuff like that. I’m really blessed and I give all the glory to God and how he changed my life.”
On Marvin Hagler’s famous line about it being hard to get up in the morning to go running when you’re sleeping in silk pajamas, how that relates to his current situation, and what now motivates him:
“It’s my kids, you know. My kids, my family, my wife is always motivating me as well. I think that if you have that positive energy always around you, you’re always gonna do good, you’re always gonna think smart, you’re always be confident. So I think that’s one of the big factors in your life — having positive people around you. And of course I’m still hungry, I’m still motivated. I want more legacy, I wanna win more fights, I wanna become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. And I’m not looking past Anthony Joshua or nothing but, we gotta get that win in December 7th.”
On if he feels like he has Joshua’s number:
“You know what, his style is perfect for me. Whatever he does, I don’t think it’s gonna make any difference. He can move around, he can jab around, but I’m always gonna be there. If he moves to the left, I’m gonna be on the left throwing combinations. So that’s the different purpose between me and other fighters, so I think that’s what makes me a different champion.”
On taking Joshua’s best shot only to come back to stop Joshua, and if that could mentally haunt Joshua in their rematch:
“Well, of course he should be thinking that too. That’s exactly what happened to him with Klitschko — he got dropped, he got back up, and he finished the fight. That’s exactly what I did on June 1st. And yeah, he should have something to worry about but I never underestimate no fighter, or him, or the fighter I just beat because me and him have a loss so I’ve learned a lot and I was scared to lose. So that’s why I don’t wanna lose. I’m not gonna lose on December 7th.”