• Joshua: ‘I am not here to put on a show, I am here to win’
Give Eddie Hearn his due. Not only has the promoter brought the world heavyweight championship to Saudi Arabia, he is also rapidly embracing its culture. In a country ranked 172 out of 180 in the world press freedom index – two places above Syria and seven ahead of North Korea – he did not bother to invite questions from journalists at the final press conference before Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr meet in a rematch on Saturday.
Still, Hearn was able to glean a few nuggets by himself. That Ruiz is convinced his opponent will come in lighter and faster, in a bid to dance and entrance for 12 rounds. That Joshua has forewarned his audience “I am not here to put on a show, I am here to win”. And finally – as every fighter on the bill kept reminding us – that the hospitality of the Saudis has been spectacular.
Written by Sean Ingle in Riyadh
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/04/eddie-hearn-anthony-joshua-andy-ruiz-boxing under the title “Eddie Hearn offers hot air and hype but Joshua punches through the noise”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
