WHEN Anthony Joshua fights Andy Ruiz Jr here tomorrow, it will not be the first time the world heavyweight championship has been contested under a brutal dictatorship.
The Rumble in the Jungle, when Muhammad Ali reclaimed his crown from George Foreman in 1974, is remembered as the greatest such contest of all time.
Anthony Joshua rematches Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia for the unified beltsCredit: Reuters
It will not be the first time the world heavyweight championship has been contested under a brutal dictatorshipCredit: Reuters
It is not recalled for the barbarity of its host, President Mobutu of Zaire, who had the genitals of political opponents ripped off before their limbs were amputated.
Likewise, Ali’s epic 1975 victory over Joe Frazier at the Thrilla in Manila was staged under the regime of Ferdinand Marcos — the former despot of the Philippines best known for wife Imelda’s collection of more than 1,000 pairs of luxury shoes.
So Joshua’s bid to reclaim his WBA, WBO and IBF belts from Ruiz in Saudi Arabia could be seen as following a grand tradition of this great title being contested in far-flung and shady parts of the globe.
That is certainly the line being peddled by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn.
Joshua will earn £66million — win, lose or draw — for staging this bout in Saudi, a nation keen to improve its image in a PR effort known by opponents as ‘sportswashing’.
The 30-year-old from Watford, who was dethroned by Mexican Ruiz in a stunning upset at New York’s Madison Square Garden in June, is happy to bury his head in the sand about the Saudis’ human-rights record.
This is a nation where dissidents have been murdered, women subjugated and where public beheadings still take place, with one such execution reportedly due to take place in Riyadh today.
While Joshua may not be a politician, he is an articulate man and it seems churlish for him to plead ignorance in an age when such information is at his fingertips.
Joshua said: “I just came here for the boxing opportunity and feel like taking boxing global is what a world champion or challenger should be doing, because you fight around the world.
“I look around here and everyone seems pretty happy and chilled.”
Told by the BBC that human-rights group Amnesty International had urged him to speak out about Saudi Arabia’s record, he said: “That’s interesting, I haven’t known much about Amnesty because I’ve spent most of my time in Finchley just training. There’s issues in Finchley, you know.
“I try to bring positivity and light everywhere I go, so I’m just seeing it from my eyes, but for sure the country is trying to do a good job politically.
“I feel I’ve got a fight to focus on. For the future maybe I can bear a different kind of flag, but at the minute it’s just the world championship flag that I’m trying to bear.”
Asked whether he is concerned about ‘sportswashing’, Joshua replied: “If that was the case, I’d definitely have to say I would be bothered.
“We looked at all different venues — but this was the one. I just want to do a job.”
The immense purse on offer was surely the decisive factor.
And the nature of boxing, where major events can be staged at relatively short notice, make it a centrepiece for Saudi’s bid to become a world sporting powerhouse.
Andy Ruiz Jr takes a tour of the stadium in Saudi Arabia where he is to fight Anthony Joshua
AJ will earn £66m for this bout in Saudi, a nation keen to improve its image in a PR effort known by opponents as ‘sportswashing’Credit: Dave Thompson
The immense purse on offer was surely the decisive factorCredit: Mark Robinson Ltd
It could soon be a case of 1,001 Arabian fights, with this nation having the financial might to overtake Las Vegas as boxing’s global centre.
As Hearn pointed out, golf’s PGA Tour, WWE wrestling and Formula E motor racing have all come to Saudi, while football’s Spanish and Italian Super Cups will be here this winter.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, chairman of Saudi’s General Sports Authority, claims his chief aim is to raise sports participation from a weekly figure of just 13 per cent in a nation with an obesity epidemic.
He also insists sport is playing a significant role in a gradual move towards gender equality, in a place where women have only been allowed to drive since last year.
Prince Abdulaziz said: “We are fixing the social scene within the kingdom. Only two years ago, women were not allowed into stadiums to watch football.
“You will see a lot of women attending this fight on Saturday.
“Now they are allowed to be part of a national team. A month ago, we participated in the Gulf Games in Kuwait and had seven female teams.”
Around 2,500 British fans are expected at this rematch, although many booked flights apparently unaware Saudi is dry of alcohol.
Joshua vs Ruiz 2: Watch incredible video that shows how stunning 15,000 purpose-built arena will look on fight night
Muhammad Ali had no problem fighting in Zaire for the Rumble in the Jungle in 1974
That will make this a very different experience to the boozy nights when Joshua won four successive title fights at packed-out stadia in Wembley and Cardiff during 2017 and 2018.
At the very least, the staging of this bout in Saudi must be seen as selling out those loyal supporters.
At worst, it can be seen as an endorsement of a regime which remains repressive and barbaric.
Not that great freedom-fighter Ali seemed to worry about such things.
This could soon be a case of 1,001 Arabian fights, with this nation having the financial might to overtake Las Vegas as boxing’s global centreCredit: Dave Thompson
Joshua will be gunning for revenge when he comes up against Ruiz JrCredit: Reuters
Anthony Joshua asks Andy Ruiz Jr ‘how do I beat you-‘ in face-to-face as humble pair embrace ahead of rematch
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
