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Andy Ruiz Jr Says Anthony Joshua Rematch Will Not Be In The UK

Andy Ruiz Jr Says Anthony Joshua Rematch Will Not Be In The UK

He's contractually obliged to rematch Joshua.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Unified heavyweight king Andy Ruiz Jr insists his rematch with Anthony Joshua will not be in the U.K.

Ruiz Jr stopped Joshua in June to become the new heavyweight world champion with Team AJ immediately triggering the contracted rematch clause.

However, there is yet to be an official announcement. It appears the venue is the sticking point with Ruiz Jr saying that he'll not contest the second meeting with Joshua on British soil.

"That's not going to happen," the Mexican-American said when asked about facing Joshua in the UK.

"We have been going back and forth, my team and their team. I'd love to have it back at Madison Square Garden to run it back.

"The Staples Center [Los Angeles], Las Vegas would have been great too."

Image: PA
Image: PA

Ruiz Jr added: "I don't think we will be changing too much. Just exactly what we did for the last one is what we will be doing, just more intense.

"I'm willing to fight anybody, as soon as I win the rematch. Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder - anybody."

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, on the other hand, has ruled out a return to America for Joshua while claiming Cardiff's Principality Stadium is the "frontrunner".

"They don't want to come to the UK, they never have done," Joshua's promoter said.

"A neutral venue, he would be a lot happier with. I think I can rule out America, right now. Cardiff is still the frontrunner, it's still the favourite."

Image: PA
Image: PA
Image: PA
Image: PA

Principality Stadium has been Joshua's home away from home having fought twice in Cardiff against Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker.

An official announcement is expected soon.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Boxing News, Andy Ruiz Jr, Joshua News, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Heavyweight, Fight News, Wilder, UK, fury

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Darren Till, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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