Joshua camp eyeing up Saudi for Ruiz rematch
ANTHONY JOSHUA’S team are in advanced talks for the British heavyweight to face Andy Ruiz Jnr in Saudi Arabia on December 7.
The Middle East country is now favourite to host the rematch for the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn (below) is in discussions with leading officials in Saudi about hosting the clash in either Riyadh or Jeddah.
It is understood the huge money on offer has put the oil-rich country in pole position.
Hearn remains open to other venues, with Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium still in the running for December 14.
But there are issues with the fight being in the UK, the main one being Ruiz Jnr’s reluctance to travel here for the rematch of their June 1 clash in New York.
He is contracted to an immediate return bout and a clause in the deal means Joshua’s team decide the venue.
However,
Mexicanthe American’s refusal to agree to a UK date has caused a delay to the decision on where the bout will take place.
Joshua’s team could take legal action but they are keen to avoid turning it into a messy situation.
If there are further delays, then there is the risk that a mandatory defence could be called by one of the sanctioning bodies.
That could mean Ruiz Jnr being stripped of one of the three titles before the rematch could take place, which would be seen as disastrous by Joshua’s team.
Ruiz Jnr shocked boxing when he stopped Joshua in the seventh round of their clash at Madison Square Garden, the Brit suffering his first pro loss. There had been talk of AJ returning to the scene of the crime but MSG is now an outsider to host the rerun. Joshua wanted the fight in the UK but is willing to travel, his focus being on getting the three world titles back before the end of the year.