Anthony Joshua is firing all cylinders ahead of Andy Ruiz Jr rematch and in a spiteful mood
Anthony Joshua opened the doors to his training camp at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield yesterday as he draws nearer to his colossal Heavyweight World title rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia on Saturday December 7, shown live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US.
Joshua was in a fiery mood as he looks to avenge the first defeat of his professional career at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1 and be crowned a two-time Heavyweight World Champion by winning back his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO crowns in the 'Clash on the Dunes'.
Here are a selection of quotes taken from AJ yesterday:
"I'm fighting the best man in the world now. I'm going to whup him, and show how great I am.
"They think he's so great, so when I beat him I want everybody to bow to my feet and tell me how great I am."
On his sole career defeat, he reflected, "I couldn't beat Ruiz Jr before and get the credit I deserved.
"You saw me in the ring [before the fight] – I wasn't fighting King Kong, was I? [I didn't have] that mindset.
"Apparently I'm fighting the quickest hands and the best fighter in the division. So once I beat him I want everybody to bow to me.
"It’s a restart, that’s the best way of explaining it.
"We’ve had plenty of time to prepare for the rematch, I’ve always had the challenger mindset."
Joshua's Stateside debut was originally meant to be against Jarell 'Big Baby' Miller, but he threw away his golden chance when he failed three drug tests. Ruiz Jr stepped in as the replacement at five weeks notice, but this time both fighters have had longer to prepare.
"I’m in for a tough fight but I don’t have any fear of Andy. I’m not gun-shy, I’m ready to swing and trade."
WATCH: AJ hitting the pads
Tony Bellew believes AJ wins the rematch – see what David Haye and Carl Froch thinks: http://britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/former-world-champions-discuss-andy-ruiz-jr-vs-anthony-joshua-rematch