Ruiz Jr not going to the UK for rematch

Well, it looks like new heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. has finally put his foot down on the terms of his next rematch with Anthony Joshua.

News broke out earlier today that when Dillian Whyte tested positive for banned substances before his fight with Rivas, it sent the boxing social media into a frenzy. Whyte, who is promoted by Matchroom Boxing which also promotes Joshua, issued this tweet regarding the positive test by its promoter Eddie Hearn:

“Further to reports I can confirm that both Dillian Whyte and Oscar Rivas were subject to extensive VADA and UKAD testing for their bout. Both fighters were cleared to fight by both bodies and the BBBofC”.

Further to reports I can confirm that both Dillian Whyte and Oscar Rivas were subject to extensive VADA and UKAD testing for their bout. Both fighters were cleared to fight by both bodies and the BBBofC

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) July 24, 2019

Ruiz noticed the news and his own Twitter decided to keep the location of the rematch out of the United Kingdom.  He tweeted, “I’m not going to the UK for the rematch #isasetup.”

I’m not going to the UK for the rematch #issasetup https://t.co/ahbMJkPWxi

— AndyRuizjr (@Andy_destroyer1) July 24, 2019

In an interview with Metro UK, the rematch had to be finalized this week by Matchroom Chairman Barry Hearn. The locations selected as Madison Square Garden and Cardiff being the two front runners. News of Whyte’s positive drug test seems to shoot down the trip over the pond for the rematch scheduled to take place near the end of the year.

‘Two other venues have come in in the last few days, outside of [the UK] Hearn said in the Metro interview. It’s a huge fight. ‘You never want to lose, but if you’re going lose, make sure the rematch is massive. And this is massive.”

The speculation on where those two places outside of the United Kingdom could seem to suggest two spots back in North America. One location is Staples Center in Los Angeles, which held heavyweight contest was between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury back in December of 2018 which it ended in a draw.

Another location that has been hinted is Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Ruiz has stated that since he is the “A-Side” of the rematch he gets to call the shots. A fight in Mexico City where he was honored as the first Mexican heavyweight champion in the history of boxing last month also lines up with Hearn’s idea of “massive.”

Azteca Stadium most famously held the Julio Cesar Chavez- Greg Haugen fight in 1993 which had the all boxing record with 132,274 fans.

One thing appears to be certain, Ruiz, isn’t traveling across the pond for his first title defense.