Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua II - 7 December 2019

[chinarich]

Wonder where it actually will take place.

The only stadium I know there is the King Fahd stadium. Surprised it’s not in Jeddah.

Any decent bars around the stadium for a few beers beforehand?

[Ruthless-RKO]

"Clash On The Dunes??"

More like “Ca$h on the Dunes”

[Nondescript]

Does anyone remember Eddie saying that they had control over where the location of the fight was in the rematch?

Turns out that appears to have been a load of bollocks.

[oogiebe]

"Clash On The Dunes??"

More like “Ca$h on the Dunes”

Really!

[oogiebe]

Does anyone remember Eddie saying that they had control over where the location of the fight was in the rematch?

Turns out that appears to have been a load of bollocks.

LOL! Hearn? Bollocks?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Does anyone remember Eddie saying that they had control over where the location of the fight was in the rematch?

Turns out that appears to have been a load of bollocks.

They did have control. Saudi offered.. and Hearn accepted. Apparently, Joshua being the ‘A side’ also had a bit of a pull.

Poor Ruiz didn’t have a say on the location. All he could do is use that to maybe get more money. Hopefully IBF don’t strip him.

[margaret thatcher]

Does anyone remember Eddie saying that they had control over where the location of the fight was in the rematch?

Turns out that appears to have been a load of bollocks.

Depends how much was offered, not so sure they weren't happy with this.

[Nondescript]

Does anyone remember Eddie saying that they had control over where the location of the fight was in the rematch?

Turns out that appears to have been a load of bollocks.

They did have control. Saudi offered.. and Hearn accepted. Apparently, Joshua being the ‘A side’ also had a bit of a pull.

Poor Ruiz didn’t have a say on the location. All he could do is use that to maybe get more money. Hopefully IBF don’t strip him.

Yeah but I still think that if they did have total control, Eddie would have opted for Cardiff like he was initially heavily hinting at. He would have had it there to weight the odds heavily in AJ's favour with the fans behind him.

I'm willing to bet that both Ruiz and Haymon wouldn't agree to fighting in the UK and would have fought a legal battle instead which would have dragged on.

[lillywhite14]

They’ve probably sacrificed ‘home’ advantage for much more dough.

This will be like a home fight for Joshua come fight night. Obviously not quite like he’s used to, sweet caroliners etc, but he’ll have the support I suspect.

Stupid place for a heavyweight title fight. Zero boxing culture there

[Gnome]

"The Rumble in Riyadh"

"Straight rights, no human rights"

"The Sell Out in Saudi"

"Mania in Arabia"

"The Desert Dust-Up / Dust-up in The Desert"

No holds barred, just women spectators.

[Exoddus]

Any decent bars around the stadium for a few beers beforehand?

You wont be getting any beers over there mate.

[Nondescript]

They’ve probably sacrificed ‘home’ advantage for much more dough.

This will be like a home fight for Joshua come fight night. Obviously not quite like he’s used to, sweet caroliners etc, but he’ll have the support I suspect.

Stupid place for a heavyweight title fight. Zero boxing culture there

Yeah but it will be some atmosphere though....

[tobyh5]

I guess this shows the rematch clause was watertight then......

[ThereByTheGrace]

Will vada and ukad be travelling with the challenger?

[tobyh5]

This will link up will with AJ training protocol, he can set up camp in the region, he loves a bit of warm weather training does AJ

[Nightmare Roy]

Wonder where it actually will take place.

The only stadium I know there is the King Fahd stadium. Surprised it’s not in Jeddah.

Any decent bars around the stadium for a few beers beforehand?

No bars but you can watch people being crucified and getting their heads chopped off most weekends

[Nightmare Roy]

Tell you what I really hope Ruiz fcking chins him again

[chinarich]

Any decent bars around the stadium for a few beers beforehand?

No bars but you can watch people being crucified and getting their heads chopped off most weekends

Yes, in all seriousness, sporting events of this magnitude shouldn’t be able to be bought to legitimise a regime with a terrible human rights record, but obviously money talks at the end of the day...

[Nightmare Roy]

No bars but you can watch people being crucified and getting their heads chopped off most weekends

Yes, in all seriousness, sporting events of this magnitude shouldn’t be able to be bought to legitimise a regime with a terrible human rights record, but obviously money talks at the end of the day...

It’s just like when you get pop stars doing private gigs for millions for ruthless dictators around the world, greedy bastards, not like they need the money

[chinarich]

Any decent bars around the stadium for a few beers beforehand?

Yeh there’s the beheaded infidel just on the corner

Is that next door to the Look No Hands bar?

[oogiebe]

Yeh there’s the beheaded infidel just on the corner

Is that next door to the Look No Hands bar?

[liamlion]

They did have control. Saudi offered.. and Hearn accepted. Apparently, Joshua being the ‘A side’ also had a bit of a pull.

Poor Ruiz didn’t have a say on the location. All he could do is use that to maybe get more money. Hopefully IBF don’t strip him.

Yeah but I still think that if they did have total control, Eddie would have opted for Cardiff like he was initially heavily hinting at. He would have had it there to weight the odds heavily in AJ's favour with the fans behind him.

I'm willing to bet that both Ruiz and Haymon wouldn't agree to fighting in the UK and would have fought a legal battle instead which would have dragged on.

I totally agree.

Also, Sky were desperate for it to be at the Principality. AJ had also been very keen on a Cardiff fight according to his recent comments, before this announcement. Big weight was in favour of the UK and not just because of finance. Home advantage for AJ was seen as a must by Sky. He’s their investment and they wanted everything in his favour for the rematch including big home support.

However, Hearn is desperate not to lose the belts. No rematch and those belts splinter. The beneficiary in that scenario would likely be Al Haymon and his fighters, pushing Hearn into the cold or at least significantly lessening his influence. I think Hearn’s desperation to secure the fight has been to Ruiz’s advantage, who’s team have took advantage and negotiated neutral ground by threatening to breach the original contract. Ruiz’s comments about the rematch show that he never had any intention of agreeing to fight in the UK.

[knockout]

I bet Ruiz’s money was fixed in the contract ! So all the oil upside goes to AJ and Eddie

[Ruthless-RKO]

No one really thinking this will go the distance.

[bigjack]

Ruiz will repeat the feat.

x2 but quicker