Tyson offers blunt advice to AJ for Ruiz rematch
Mike Tyson has dished out some strongly-worded advice to Anthony Joshua for the British heavyweight’s highly anticipated rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr.
Joshua will look to win back his WBO, WBA and IBF belts from Ruiz after he was stunned by the Mexican at New York’s Madison Square Garden in June, suffering a seventh round TKO for the first loss of his career.
The rematch is set for November or December with a venue still to be confirmed.
Tyson, whose career never really recovered from his shock loss to Buster Douglas, urged Joshua to seek some solitude to sort out his headspace and training structure.
‘‘He made a mistake, got hurt, and s... happens,’’ former champion Tyson said during the latest episode of his Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast.
‘‘He can win it back though, but his mind has to be right. He ain’t gonna win it back if his mind’s f ...... up.
‘‘His mind’s gotta be right, he’s gotta dedicate his life to doing this.
‘‘He’s gotta stay away from himself. When we go training, we go away in the mountains, we’re staying away from ourselves and our thoughts.
‘‘In the mountains away from everybody, just the animals and the woods and stuff – you’re facing your demons alone.’’
Meanwhile, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has warned Ruiz against trying to hijack the rematch.
Hearn wants it in Britain but Ruiz, as champion, is starting to call some shots of his own and is suggesting the United States – Las Vegas or Los Angeles – or Mexico as the venue.
Hearn warned there could be a legal minefield that would stop Ruiz from fighting if he didn’t stick to the agreed terms of the first contract that had the rematch clause in it.
Hearn told iFL TV: ‘‘Andy Ruiz Jr is an honourable stand up guy.
‘‘He knows what he signed and it wasn’t unfair what he signed but he has contractual obligations that he has to meet now.
‘‘Andy Ruiz was chosen from a group of people because we believed he would be the best most competitive fight for Anthony Joshua – we were right.
‘‘And then, if he was to win that fight, as set out in the contract there were a number of terms that he would have to adhere to.
‘‘It’s very standard. It’s not, ‘oh that was out of order. He is the A-side now’.
‘‘No, this was what was agreed by both parties. Negotiated and agreed.’’
Ultimately it could be Joshua’s choice for the venue of the sequel and he hasn’t ruled out returning to New York to try to seek redemption after such a disappointing debut in the US.