Unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. stands on the verge of claiming the division’s monopoly on titles.
A win next week will see Ruiz cement the championships for himself after completing an enforced rematch clause.
Ruiz Jr has vowed to ‘make history again’. He landed in Saudi Arabia for the Clash On The Dunes, bringing his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO title belts with him.
The Mexican-American fighter followed his challenger Anthony Joshua into the Kingdom. He touched down at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh earlier this week to set up his own training camp to prepare for the epic bout on December 7.
The first-ever Heavyweight World Title fight to take place in the Middle East will be staged in the custom-built 15,000 seater Diriyah Arena.
The venue is now ready for action in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s known as the home of heroes and kings.
When asked how he felt about boxing in the Kingdom for the first time, Andy Ruiz said: “It feels good. You know I made history in New York. I’ll make history again in Saudi Arabia.”
Joshua will be looking to regain the title belts on the line after losing them to Ruiz – known as ‘The Destroyer’ – at their first meeting in New York earlier this year.
With hundreds of fans from throughout the US travelling for the bout, the collective number of kilometers travelled by Americans is a significantly larger commitment than any other fans from across the world. Tickets have sold in 60 different countries.
But his fans will have to their work cut out to match the volume of Joshua’s followers with thousands flying in from the UK.
A world-class undercard will support the compelling main draw. But even before they reach the arena fans will be knocked out by what is waiting for them.
Spectators will approach the Diriyah Arena via the Diriyah Oasis, a huge sprawling entertainment hub which includes ice-skating outdoors, sky diving, jetski-ing and ziplining among a host of activities on offer.
The Diriyah Oasis is split into four zones. Nature, Imagination, Reflection, Excitement. Giving families a place to come together.
At its heart lies an astonishing grand installation by world-renowned Italian artist, Edoardo Tresoldi.
The Clash On The Dunes forms part of the Diriyah Season, epic month of sports which kicked off with Formula E at the weekend. Also, the Diriyah Tennis Cup featuring eight of the best men’s players on the planet. Finally, the Diriyah Equestrian Festival, an elite competition with Tokyo Olympics 2020 qualifying points on the line.
The Diriyah Season is also supported by the Diriyah Music Festival with huge concerts taking place around the event.
On December 6, the night before the Clash On The Dunes, major artists who are yet to be announced will perform.
So far artists such as Imagine Dragons, DJ Alan Walker, Clean Bandit and Maluma have performed to 40,000 concert goers.
