Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua 2: Ruiz quotes from day 1 of fight week

Andy Ruiz Jr. gets ready to defend his heavyweight titles for the first time against Anthony Joshua. Here’s what he had to say on day 1 of fight week.

In June, Andy Ruiz Jr. changed the landscape of boxing’s heavyweight division when he surprisingly stopped Anthony Joshua in seven rounds to win the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO world titles. On Saturday, Dec. 7, Ruiz hopes to prove that the result of the first fight wasn’t a fluke when he meets Joshua in a rematch in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

Coming into fight week, there are several subplots percolating leading up to the bout. Ruiz’s conditioning is a hot topic. Ruiz looked skinnier in several social media posts, but there are questions on whether he’s lost any weight.

On the flip side, Joshua’s physique also looks transformed. He weighed a musclebound 247 pounds in their first fight, but his social media pictures show a leaner figure. What impact, if any, will this have the second time around?

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Both boxers arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Dec. 2, to kick off fight week media festivities. Here are some of the more eye-catching quotes Ruiz shared with the media.

In terms of strategy against Joshua, Ruiz said via a Matchroom Boxing press release, “December 7 we have to pressure, work the body, break him down. Especially his mentality.”

Ruiz added, “Especially me staying small. I don’t think he likes fighting against that style. I don’t think he’s ever fought a short guy that pressures and is pretty slick. I felt like I was boxing him around even though I was the shorter guy. I was counter-punching him. When he would throw, I would throw back with more punches.”

Regardless of Joshua’s physical conditioning, Ruiz questions how Joshua will deal with the mental and emotional pressure of trying to regain his titles.

“We’ve got to see where he’s at because all the pressure is on him,” said Ruiz. “The pressure isn’t on me because I followed my dream, made my dreams come true. Of course I want more though—I want the legacy of Andy Ruiz Jr.”

In the first fight, Joshua tried to take Ruiz out early. That proved to be a costly mistake as he left his chin vulnerable to Ruiz’s punches. One assumption is that Joshua will try to box Ruiz instead of going for a knockout. Ruiz thinks this is flawed logic.

“I actually break them down even faster when they try to box me around,” said Ruiz. “We all have a plan until we get hit, like Mike Tyson would say. I’m pretty sure he will want to box me around.”

Ruiz thinks that winning against Joshua may be harder in the rematch based on the result of the first fight.

“One punch can change the fight,” said Ruiz. “That’s what happened on June 1. It might be a little harder than the first time. I’ve got to show my skills, my talent.”

Ruiz gets his shot to show his talent on Saturday, Dec. 7, on DAZN. The main event is set for 3 p.m. ET.

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