Eddie Hearn has revealed that an Instagram message is what got Andy Ruiz Jr his first match with Anthony Joshua.
Ruiz shocked the world when he defeated Joshua back in June and they are set to clash again this weekend in Saudi Arabia.
He was a last minute replacement for Jarrell Miller who failed a drugs test before his slated fight with AJ.
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Hearn has now revealed the message the Mexican sent to him asking for the fight.
"Once the three positive drugs tests (for Miller) came in, we searched for a new opponent," the Matchroom promoter said per Daily Mirror.
"I wasn't under any instructions; it was a case of whoever you want.
"Someone sent me a direct message on Instagram: 'I'm fighting Saturday. Give me this fight, I will fight harder than any of the names you've mentioned, I will give you a better fight and I will beat Anthony Joshua'.
The man in question ended up being Ruiz Jr and Hearn admits that the message caught his eye.
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"OK, that got my attention. We had a look, we saw him deal with and stop Alexander Dimitrenko on Fox and the discussions continued.
"I've found a man who had a burning desire to create history, to create a legacy, and become the first ever Mexican world heavyweight champion."
The 40-year-old had found a man who did create history with his seventh round TKO back in June.
He walked out of Madison Square Garden as WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion.
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Joshua is determined to win his belts back however and is ready for a third fight with Ruiz next year should he win on Saturday.
"He was on my mind five weeks before June 1 because that is when he came in," he said at his public work-out in Riyadh.
"He's going to be on my mind forever. We're all going to fight. If he's dedicated to the game we will definitely see each other a third time down the line."
The Brit did assure fans that the second Ruiz match will not be the final one in their saga.
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"This won't be the last time I see Andy Ruiz in the ring.
"I think we make for good fights. There's definitely a knock out in this fight, that's what the people want to see - blood shed and knockouts.
"I feel it in my heart, I'm confident and I believe in myself that I will be victorious. You're going to see fireworks."
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Who do you think will win the rematch?
Sound off in the comments below.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Boxing News, Andy Ruiz Jr, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Eddie Hearn
