He didn’t say he would whoop Ruiz. He was saying part of his mentality is to fight wherever Ruiz wants cos he thinks he can beat him. But another part of him wants to fight in the UK. Say what you want about AJ but he’s earned my respect with the way he’s conducted himself following this loss.
Perhaps me just being cynical.. at face value I agree with you. But I know that AJ is a multi-million-pound investment who has a highly paid PR team behind him. They'd have worked out a strategy for how he should behave, the statements that he and the promoter need to make etc.. in the event of a loss to make him come across as well as possible. They've done a great job post-Ruiz and have definitely earned their money. I could be being totally over-cynical here - but I'm so used to his career being staged managed that I can't see him as an authentic personality.
"I want to do it for the fans in the UK" Can you imagine a more soulless empty location for a Heavyweight World title fight. Would be sick if this fight happened there.
If that’s the case then he’s keeping up this act brilliantly lol. I mean we all act differently in our personal lives than we do it our work lives. Perhaps I should just commend him on acting professionally. Probably deep down Joshua wants to say I can’t believe I lost to this fat ******* and make up a load of excuses lol. But he is getting straight back in with a guy who beat him from pillar to post so I give him props for that. I mean if he losss again his career is effectively over...
He also talked about defining moments in a career. Ruiz2 will be that (as apposed to the first fight - seen by everyone, including AJ as a walkover). AJ looked pissed off to me - frustrated by the Ruiz loss, his attitude to the fight and the aftermath. He ll take that frustration out on Ruiz & with his legacy on the line, don’t think you have to worry about his passion for the fight.
"Walking out in Cardiff in front of 70, 80, 90 thousand people screaming and rooting for you to win, that type of energy that goes through your body is unstoppable and I think that could give me the little bit of edge I need to win those belts." Saudi Arabia would be a nightmare for Joshua. Library atmosphere. You could hear a pin drop during Groves v Smith.
Bookies are offering odds on the venue. Principality Stadium 4/5 Any Saudi venue 11/10 MSG 20/1 Any Las Vegas venue 25/1 Wembley 28/1 Any Mexican venue 28/1 Nigeria 33/1
Hopefully Mexico or Nigeria - would be fun. Failing that, MSG, Las Vegas or perhaps the Staples Centre.
Hearn said it will be Cardiff or a neutral venue. Ruiz has ruled out the UK and has links to both America and Mexico and Joshua has links to Nigeria so that leaves Saudi Arabia. Rumble in Riyadh it is (Mecca of boxing).
