Anthony Joshua is aiming to emulate Deontay Wilder’s massive knockout victory over Dominic Breazeale when the Briton takes on Andy Ruiz Jr.
‘AJ’ puts his clutch of title belts on the line against Ruiz this Saturday night. The Olympic gold medallist is aiming to make a big impression on his American debut.
After witnessing Wilder crush ex-opponent Breazeale, whom Joshua stopped in the mid-rounds, the 30 year-old admitted a certain amount of envy.
“Oh, that was a good one, that was a good one! I am going to be in there in the first round trying to knock out Ruiz but if it don’t happen, it don’t happen,” said Joshua.
“As long as I get the win, it puts me on that path. And like I have said before, I think Wilder and I need to sit down man to man. We need to talk about how we get this fight made.”
Wilder recently signed on for a rematch with Luis Ortiz. This means Joshua is once again out in the cold.
Pushing thoughts of Wilder to once side, Joshua knows he needs to focus on the job at hand against Ruiz.
“I am just rolling with the punches and not trying to get caught up in the hype of it all. The main time when you enjoy it is after the fight.
“God willing, I win. Then I will look and say, ‘Wow, I’ve really done it at Madison Square Garden.’ I just don’t want to take part, I want to own the night. And that’s why I need to win.”
RUIZ
Meanwhile, challenger Ruiz is relishing his underdog tag.
“Everyone has always doubted me. But look, I came so far, coming from a small town, a small city and now I am doing great things. I am fighting for the Heavyweight Championship of the world. I’m here to make history and to become the first Mexican Heavyweight Champion.”
“There’s a lot of pressure on me but I think Anthony Joshua has more to lose fighting a dangerous fighter like me. I am a better opponent than all of the other opponents they were talking about. I am here to win it all.”
Ruiz previously failed to win the WBO strap against Joseph Parker. Joshua defeated Parker in a unification on British soil.
