ANTHONY JOSHUA will be surrounded by familiar faces during his must-win rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr.
The undercard in Saudi Arabia features two boxers who have wins over the 6ft 6in Brit star.
And after Ruiz’s shock stoppage inside seven rounds last June, it means AJ has been beaten by THREE of fighters on the pay-per-view billing.
The former unified heavyweight king and global superstar has a say on whoever promoter Eddie Hearn wants on his undercard.
And SunSport takes a look at the faces AJ knows all too well.
Dillian Whyte
Joshua is the only man to beat Brixton banger Whyte, 31, in the pro ranks.
But in Whyte’s first amateur boxing bout in 2009 – having competed mostly in kickboxing – he beat a then-four-bout novice AJ in a London home show.
Joshua, 30, at the time was unbeaten, but powerhouse Whyte put him on the floor before winning a points decision.
He was only one of three opponents to beat future 2012 Olympic gold medallist AJ in the unpaid ranks – and the pair would rematch six years later.
In a thrilling British title clash, Joshua survived a second-round wobble to score a stunning KO in the seventh – and would go on to win the IBF world title in his next fight.
Magomedrasul Majidov
Azerbaijani heavyweight Majidov is fighting Hatfield hardman and AJ sparring partner Tom Little on Saturday night.
But Majidov is most-remembered for winning against Joshua in the World Amateur Championships in 2011 in Azerbaijan – a year before the Watford ace won Olympic gold.
The Eastern European beat AJ by a single point leaving him with a silver, but it was the tournament the future unified champion announced himself on the world stage.
Majidov would go on to lose to amateur legend Roberto Cammarelle in the London Games last-four, the opponent AJ beat in the dramatic final.
The Azerbaijani won his pro debut in September beating Ed Fountain and will jump straight into an eight-rounder with traveller Little.
Andy Ruiz Jr
Despite a trio of losses in the amateurs, Joshua went 22 fights undefeated in the paid ranks before he was dumped on the deck four times by 19st underdog Ruiz in June.
AJ was stunned in seven rounds on his US debut, and enters the immediate rematch as a beaten man for the first time.
Despite Ruiz having the physiological advantage going into the rematch, Joshua owns a win against Joseph Parker, the only professional the Mexican-American has lost to.
Parker reckons Ruiz is the harder puncher of the two, but his trainer Kevin Barry has tipped AJ to come out victorious in the rerun.
Joshua has already promised his rival a trilogy bout, if he reclaims his belts in Saudi, with a third instalment settling the score.
Familiar faces
Almost every heavyweight on the undercard has shared a ring with Joshua.
Eric Molina, who lasted only three rounds against AJ in 2016, faces hard-hitting Croatian Filip Hrgovic – a sparring partner of Joshua’s.
Whyte’s return opponent Mariusz Wach, as well as Little, are also past training partners of the ex-WBA, IBF and WBO champion.
Alexander Povetkin, the last man Joshua beat, takes on Michael Hunter in the chief support act – the Russian lost to the Londoner in 2018 but beat Hughie Fury in his last bout.
The only heavyweight to have no experience with the London star is Hunter – who, of course, has been sparring with Ruiz ahead of their Saudi fights.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
