ANTHONY JOSHUA says defeat against chubby champ Andy Ruiz Jr will be a CATASTROPHE.
The Brit, who could bank up to £60million for the Saudi Arabia showdown, is tonight seeking revenge for his shock KO in June.
Anthony Joshua says defeat against chubby Andy Ruiz Jr will be a catastropheCredit: AFP or licensors
Mexican Ruiz Jr weighed in at 20st 3lb yesterday, while lean and mean AJ was just 16st 13lb as he battles to regain his WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight titles.
Joshua, 30, said: “It will definitely be catastrophic if I lose — but I’m not even thinking about that.
“It will be big business when I win. As bad as it was when I lost, it will be as great when I win.
“It is a rematch — but I’m still fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world. I’m more than ready.”
Joshua was 17st 9lb for the first fight, with Ruiz Jr coming in at 19st 2lb.
But in Saudi Arabia the champion, 30, had bulked up even further.
AJ laughed: “He’s a big lad, isn’t he?
“But it is not about weight, it is about hitting and not getting hit. It’s the sweet science.”
Joshua is adamant his extra homework and weight loss will ensure he passes the biggest test of his career.
He added: “It’s like an exam. You go through it once, you fail. Most people fail their first driving test. I got mine on my third go — but I switched to automatic as well.
“I am better prepared this time. That’s when I really started studying boxing again and what it means. Providing I tick all the things on my list, I should be victorious.”
Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr will have a three-stone weight difference in their world title rematchCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
AJ is the lightest he had been since beating Denis Bakhtov way back in 2014Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Mexican-American Ruiz is the heaviest he has been since his debut a decade agoCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
