Andy Ruiz Jnr

[margaret thatcher]

The US State Department rates Saudi Arabia as a 2 out of 4 travel threat, same as Mexico, UK, France, Germany...

[liamlion]

The US State Department rates Saudi Arabia as a 2 out of 4 travel threat, same as Mexico, UK, France, Germany...

He hasn’t agreed to fight in any of those countries you’ve named though. He wants the fight in the US. Your point being?

[margaret thatcher]

Dude was just lobbying to fight in Mexico, was just there, and already fought there multiple times, and American fighters go to those countries regularly without incident. Obviously the US doesn't rate Saudi Arabia as a major travel threat, if they did they could rate the country as a 3 or a 4 like they have done for several other countries. Instead they gave it a 2 like many other countries where world level boxing happens regularly.

'But the US government say' doesn't really strike a compelling argument when the US government is putting Saudi on the same level as Germany, UK, Mexico, France, etc., and we saw a world level match between Groves and Smith go down fine.

[margaret thatcher]

Russia also has a 2 btw....I wonder if Yarde as mandatory could've done legal action

[liamlion]

Dude was just lobbying to fight in Mexico, was just there, and already fought there multiple times, and American fighters go to those countries regularly without incident. Obviously the US doesn't rate Saudi Arabia as a major travel threat, if they did they could rate the country as a 3 or a 4 like they have done for several other countries. Instead they gave it a 2 like many other countries where world level boxing happens regularly.

Likely an argument for the lawyers. Europe is a big target for Islamic fundamentalists. There has been multiple attacks on the UK, France and other major countries in Europe within the past 10 years. The fact Saudi shares a similar rating to France and the Uk isn’t such a good thing. But yes, the rating could be also worse.

I’m quite liking how Ruiz and his team are fooking with Eddie.

[liamlion]

Russia also has a 2 btw....I wonder if Yarde as mandatory could've done legal action

Perhaps. Anything is possible. But Yarde is desperate for a crack at the title and the payday. Ruiz isn’t in that boat. He’s the defending champion that isn’t get his full value due to a contract signed prior to his title win. He’s desperate to fight on his terms, feeling a sense of entitlement.

[samwbr]

Russia also has a 2 btw....I wonder if Yarde as mandatory could've done legal action

Perhaps. Anything is possible. But Yarde is desperate for a crack at the title and the payday. Ruiz isn’t in that boat. He’s the defending champion that isn’t get his full value due to a contract signed prior to his title win. He’s desperate to fight on his terms, feeling a sense of entitlement.

Shouldn't have signed it then. If he takes the fight he'll have earnt $15mill or something inside 6 months having never got more than 500k previously.
Got no sympathy for him or his team on this.

[overhand_right]

Contractually Hearn had the right to select the venue for the rematch. This has been checked, so Ruiz really doesn't have the right to protest it. He will of course.

He certainly does if the fight is in a country which his own government raises safety concerns for travelling US citizens... Arguably this wouldn’t even necessarily amount to a breach of contract by Ruiz.

The Saudis are firm friends with Washington and have been for decades. There is no way in hell the Saudis would let anything happen to Andy Ruiz. He would be the one of the safest men on earth while there.

He would be more at risk among his kinfolk in Mexico, where the iconic Julio Cesar Chavez was recently robbed at gunpoint.

[Autobarn]

And where, going back not too far, reigning world champ & #1 puncher pound for pound in the world Rafael Marquez was kidnapped and held to ransom.

[lillywhite14]

I’m all for people telling Hearn to do one but signing a contract then trying to go back on it, we’ll thats a bit of a bitch move.

Just get the fight done! These heavyweights are divas

[mickey1975]

I’m all for people telling Hearn to do one but signing a contract then trying to go back on it, we’ll thats a bit of a bitch move.

Just get the fight done! These heavyweights are divas

Was Hayman ever just going to play ball?

[dookus]

Ruiz has reportedly agreed to Saudi Arabia

https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/ ... udi-arabia

Fat Dan:

12:25 AM BST
Dan Rafael
ESPN Senior Writer
Unified heavyweight world titleholder Andy Ruiz Jr. has agreed to go to Saudi Arabia to face Anthony Joshua in their much-anticipated rematch, a source with direct knowledge of the discussions confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Ruiz and his team on Wednesday night agreed to terms that will have him face Joshua again on Dec. 7 at a soon-to-be-constructed outdoor stadium in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, where the government is backing a site fee worth tens of millions of dollars.

The Ruiz camp, which includes promoter Tom Brown and adviser Al Haymon, was awaiting the paperwork from Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing on Thursday, and as long as what they agreed to is reflected in that paperwork, Ruiz will sign, the source said. The Athletic first reported that Ruiz had agreed to terms.

Ruiz's team sought not only a better financial deal than what was spelled out in the contract for the first fight -- about $9 million for the rematch, sources have told ESPN -- but also guarantees for other aspects of the fight that were not part of that original deal.

[Coco]

If Ruiz has managed to squeeze out an extra few million for himself, it's a job well done.

[MasterG]

I wonder what 'other aspects' means. Not another rematch?

[mickey1975]

I wonder what 'other aspects' means. Not another rematch?

Why not? He’s the champion!

[MasterG]

I wonder what 'other aspects' means. Not another rematch?

Why not? He’s the champion!

Not if AJ beats him

[Nightmare Roy]

I wonder what 'other aspects' means. Not another rematch?

They have a say on the ref and judges apparently

[danconnollyeire]

Dude was just lobbying to fight in Mexico, was just there, and already fought there multiple times, and American fighters go to those countries regularly without incident. Obviously the US doesn't rate Saudi Arabia as a major travel threat, if they did they could rate the country as a 3 or a 4 like they have done for several other countries. Instead they gave it a 2 like many other countries where world level boxing happens regularly.

Likely an argument for the lawyers. Europe is a big target for Islamic fundamentalists. There has been multiple attacks on the UK, France and other major countries in Europe within the past 10 years. The fact Saudi shares a similar rating to France and the Uk isn’t such a good thing. But yes, the rating could be also worse.

I’m quite liking how Ruiz and his team are fooking with Eddie.

Yeah what you’re saying is true. I guess the fundamental difference is it’s outside forces (or at least people associated with outside forces aka ISIS) doing the attacks in Europe and the government/police etc are trying (often badly) to protect against that. In Saudi, if you get screwed, it’s often by inside forces

[margaret thatcher]

Internal threat from Mexico too I guess

Ruiz will be perfectly safe in Saudi Arabia.

[danconnollyeire]

Internal threat from Mexico too I guess

Ruiz will be perfectly safe in Saudi Arabia.

He’s a millionaire athlete he’ll be safe anywhere but if he doesn’t wanna fight there it’s a good enough excuse for lawyers to spin. I’m sure an increased purse would persuade him otherwise

[margaret thatcher]

JC Chavez, a much bigger national star than Ruiz, just got mugged in Mexico I think. Andy still wanted to have the fight there!