Joshua reveals what he will do to Wilder and Fury if he beats Ruiz
Anthony Joshua will snub a 2020 showdown with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury if he beats Andy Ruiz Jr.
Joshua plans to fight Andy Ruiz Jr for a third time if he wins his belts back this weekend. Boxing fans were hoping the Brit would take on Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury in a blockbuster heavyweight clash.
But Joshua appears to be looking the other way, especially given he has lost his undefeated tag.
The 30-year-old will attempt to win back his WBA, WBO and IBF belts in Saudi Arabia on
Saturday after suffering a seventh-round TKO when the pair met in June.
That was the only blemish on the Watford-born fighter’s 22-1 record.
However, if Joshua can exact revenge on Ruiz Jr this weekend he will then look to set up a trilogy in 2020.
“Yes (I want a trilogy) because I think we make for good fights,” Joshua said.
“I think there will definitely be a knockout and people want to see bloodshed and a knockout. I think we will see each other a third time.
“It’s about being confident, about knowing my capabilities. I’ve have a great training camp, I am well prepared. I’m ready to showcase my skills.
“I’m forever changing, that’s what training camp is about, I am well prepared. I’m ready
to showcase my skills.
“I’m forever changing, that’s what training camp is about, evolution, like right and day. I shed the skin from last time, re-built myself, and all I’m going is going to win, that’s what I’m focussed on.”
Boxing fans are desperate to see Joshua attempt to unify the heavyweight division with a clash against WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
The duo have negotiated going toe-to-toe in the past but talks always reached an impasse.
Fury is also keen to step into the ring with Joshua for a Battle of Britain.
But the Gypsy King must first come through his February clash with Wilder – a bout the American is confident of coming through unscathed.
“Next we have Tyson Fury in the rematch,” Wilder said. “It’s scheduled for February so we’ll see.
“Then, I want a unification. I want one champion, one face and one heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
“The heavyweight division is too small, there should be one champion.”
And Fury added: “Andy Ruiz Jr for example, little fat pig, comes in on three weeks notice, murdered every donut and taco in California, goes in with a guy who had a 12-week training camp with every sport scientist in the UK.
“[Joshua] has broken every heart monitor insight, he’s been every cross-fit machine, been on the best diet you can get, but the fat fella goes in there and bowls him over in seven rounds.
“I see the rematch going pretty much similar to the first fight, I know they both lost some weight and there’s more time to prepare and all that, they’ll have different game plans.
“I don’t think that Ruiz Jr is too good, but my opinion is he’s won already and knocked him out so he’s got a mental edge going into the rematch.
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“Joshua is going into it mentally beaten already because he’s been knocked out. Boxing is 95 percent in the mind anyway. It wasn’t a lucky punch, I gave Joshua one round out of the seven.
“Everyone has a bogeyman in their career, I think personally that Ruiz Jr is the bogeyman for Joshua.”