"Andy Ruiz is the best heavyweight out there" - AJ
SHOWS:
LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 6, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANTHONY JOSHUA, SAYING:
"You know that my challenge is and my fights are never no what we call 'cherry picking' in boxing. They the elite of the elite, the top of the crop, and that little bit of motivation that when I'm fighting someone who has the skill set and is a champion it's not it's like I'm fighting someone that's a stepping stone to a champion. we can't kind of overlook Andy and his talents and his success in the ring because I'm fighting the best out there right now and right now in my opinion Andy Ruiz is the best heavyweight out there."
2. WHITE FLASH
3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WBA, IBF, WBO AND IBO HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, ANDY RUIZ, SAYING:
"It's gonna mean everything you know this is like Anthony said the belts in June and December seventh the belts are gonna be in the air, it's either him or me but my mindset in there, I'm motivated, I feel Anthony's trying take my kids Cheerios (breakfast cereal) you know so that's what gives me that extra motivation. Tell you the truth the only motivation that I have right now is with my kids and my loved ones so if someone's trying to take that away from me I'm gonna die trying not to."
STORY: WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua concluded a whirlwind three-city media tour in London on Friday (September 6) ahead of their highly anticipated rematch in Saudi Arabia on December 7, dubbed "Clash of the Dunes".
Having lost his belts in an upset TKO defeat to Ruiz in June at Madison Square Garden in New York, his first professional loss, AJ praised his Mexican opponent, calling him "the best heavyweight out there".
Ruiz, meanwhile, commented that he was willing to die to avoid losing his status as champion that would affect his family's lifestyle and that returning to his dad's construction work was simply not an option.
(Production: Stefan Haskins)
