Saudi Arabia is an unusual place from the point of view of boxing culture.
There is no history of prize fighting in the region and you feel that absence from the moment you touch down.
From a technical point of view everything works. The facilities and the hotels are great.
The only thing that went against us when George Groves fought Callum Smith was the result, but we had no complaints about the show.
So whatever concerns Andy Ruiz has about the rematch, it is not the setting or neutrality. You will never find a more neutral location to defend a title.
I suspect good old boxing politics is behind the Ruiz noise coming out of the United States. His handlers are either manipulating the circumstances for a better deal, or they are testing the strength of the contract.
(Image: Getty Images)
Ruiz is managed by Al Haymon, who also advises Deontay Wilder.
And Haymon wants the big fights in the US, an environment he knows and can control.
In many ways Joshua walked into an ambush in the first fight at Madison Square Garden.
He was reckless. He got caught trying to finish the job and the whole fight went away from him.
To me, Joshua didn’t look quite right at any point that night. There was speculation that he was hurt in his last sparring session. He looked unsettled.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Critics say he is no good away from home. I don’t believe that. People forget how difficult it is to maintain form when you are carrying the weight of the sport on your shoulders.
That is how it must seem to him at times. Joshua has become a huge star.
After being knocked down four times in New York, Joshua recognised something has to give and has said he will make changes to his coaching team.
He said he needs to get back to basics, to surround himself by boxing people and rediscover his passion for the sport.
In that Joshua is absolutely bang on. Wherever the rematch takes place, he needs to be fully focused on the job. He can’t afford to get careless a second time.
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