Andy Ruiz Jr vs. Anthony Joshua II: fight guide, predictions, ring walks, UK start time, betting odds, TV

Andy Ruiz Jr vs. Anthony Joshua II

What: IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO world heavyweight title rematch
When: Saturday 7 December
Where: Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
Ring walks: 8.30pm (GMT) according to Sky Sports
Fight start time: 9pm (GMT)
TV channel: live on Sky Sports Box Office

When Anthony Joshua last stepped into the ring with Andy Ruiz Jr in June he was an undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion and the overwhelming bookies’ favourite to extend his superb record.

Seven rounds later in New York City Joshua’s belts, and undefeated record, were gone as Ruiz Jr scored an upset that pundits described as the one of the biggest shocks ever in boxing history.

Roll on six months, British fighter Joshua is now the challenger and the 30-year-old is out to reclaim the belts from the Mexican champion in Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening.

Here we look at what the fighters are saying ahead the rematch, the tale of the tape, pundit predictions and betting odds.

How to watch Ruiz Jr vs. Joshua II on TV

The big title fight will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Box Office and will cost £24.95. Sky subscribers can click here and non-Sky subscribers can click here to book.

The “clash on the dunes” in Saudi Arabia will also be shown at official screenings in London and at many pubs, clubs and bars throughout the UK.

Where to watch Ruiz Jr vs. Joshua II: official screenings, pubs and bars

Video of ANTHONY JOSHUA vs ANDY RUIZ JR | HIGHLIGHTS

Ruiz Jr vs. Joshua II: tale of the tape

Andy Ruiz Jr

Nationality: American/Mexican
Age: 30
Nickname: Destroyer
Height: 6ft 2in
Stance: Orthodox
Reach: 74in
Record: 33-1-0
KOs: 22

Anthony Joshua

Nationality: British
Age: 30
Nickname: AJ
Height: 6ft 6in
Stance: Orthodox
Reach: 82in
Record: 22-1-0
KOs: 21

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What the fighters are saying

Ruiz Jr

“Inside the ring, I’m the champion of the world. I’m Mr Hulk in there and I’ve still got a lot to accomplish. This journey now is what I’ve been dreaming about all my life. I accomplished my dreams on 1 June and I’ve still got a lot to prove on 7 December.

“It feels good. You know I made history in New York and I’ll make history again in Saudi Arabia.

“It might be a little harder than the first time. I’ve got to show my skills, my talent. We’ve got to see where he’s at, because all the pressure is on him. The pressure isn’t on me because I followed my dream, made my dreams come true.

“Of course I want more though – I want the legacy of Andy Ruiz Jr.”

Joshua

“It’s more myself I have to change. I am looking at myself in the mirror and saying I know I’m better than that. Andy is still the same person. He will come game and I’ve got to change some of my bits and bobs. I was 50% of the way towards getting a win, just got caught.

“There is fire in the belly. There are things I have had to do to take me to the next level. I am confident I can be victorious and when I am I will tell everyone of how I went wrong. I am a challenger. This is my chance at the heavyweight championship of the world.”

Predictions: who will win the rematch?

Deontay Wilder, WBC heavyweight champion, via Sky Sports

“I really believe Andy’s gonna go in there and do it again. When I look at the first fight and I see certain things as a fighter, a lot of red flags that alert me. And if that same mindset and momentum goes into the second fight, Andy Ruiz is going to win that easily. I’d prefer him to win because we’re in the same stable. When he wins we have the opportunity to unify the division. If Joshua wins, I don’t think that’s gonna be.”

Tyson Fury, British heavyweight boxer, via the True Geordie Podcast

“Andy Ruiz is a little fat pig, comes in on three weeks’ notice, murdered every donut and taco in California and then goes in with a man who’s had a 12-week training camp with every sports scientist in the United Kingdom. But the little fat fella goes in there and bowls him over in seven rounds… I see it going pretty much similar to the first fight.”

Paulie Malignaggi, American former boxer, via talkSPORT

“I see it a better fight than the first fight. I see Joshua winning the fight. I think it’s a fight where they’ll both push each other, they should bring the best out of each other and I don’t think Ruiz will have to make any adjustments to the first time. He just kind of went through him and that was it and I don’t think Joshua ever got started, you know? So I think Joshua will get started, I think Ruiz will be forced to make adjustments and I think they will bring the best out of each other and I edge it to Joshua.”

Video of Tyson Fury Predicts Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz 2

Amir Khan, British boxer, via Sky Sports

“He [Joshua] needs to go back to boxing. If he can be smart, use his jab, keeps it long, then I think the knockout will come. I think AJ will stop him – maybe between rounds five and seven if he sticks to his game plan. I’m sure he’s going to be ready for this.”

Dillian Whyte, British heavyweight boxer, via talkSPORT

“I think it’s a great fight just like the first one was. Everyone was overlooking Andy Ruiz in the first fight, even I thought Joshua was gonna knock Ruiz out in six rounds… The great thing is he has a chance to put everything that was wrong right. He’s British, he’s my competitor and he’s my rival, I’m gonna back him. Hopefully he wins and I want him to win.”

Joseph Parker, New Zealand heavyweight, via Boxing Social

“I don’t know. I still think it’s a 50/50 fight. It’s gonna be a very close fight. Either Ruiz pushes the fight faster and goes forward because he’s taken his best shots. Or Joshua – you see he’s trimmed down a lot – he boxes him from the outside and keeps him at bay. I don’t know. I think if he [Joshua] boxes from the outside and uses his advantages. His reach, he used that very well against me, but I don’t have the same style as Ruiz, it’s a hard one for me to call.”

Kevin Barry, Joseph Parker’s trainer, via the BBC

“Ruiz has the belts and everyone says once you become champion you’re 10% better and I think that is a fair statement. But I think Joshua will fight a totally different fight. When he had Ruiz down, all he had to do was take his time but he ran in with the wrong punches and put himself there to be hurt. This time we will see more poise. If he uses his skills and controls the pressure, I think Joshua wins the fight.”

Ewan Lavender, The Stats Zone

“Joshua is expected to head to Saudi Arabia fully focused and the most motivated he has been in his career. He may step on the scales lighter to try and match the speed of Ruiz and up his output. His defence will always be a question mark but if he works on his footwork and head movement he can match the first 2.5 rounds in the first fight and go on to finish Ruiz in vintage Joshua fashion. Winner: Joshua via KO/TKO.”