Ruiz says he would’ve fought in the UK

At the end of the day, Andy Ruiz Jr. would’ve taken the rematch with Anthony Joshua if it took place in the United Kingdom.

The new WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion had before the match reservations about traveling abroad before the rematch was made final for Saudia Arabia in December. Following Thursday’s presser in New York Ruiz claims he had no problem, it just would’ve taken more coin.

“I would’ve been there,” Ruiz stated following a press conference in Manhattan. “If the number would’ve been right, I would’ve been there, and I would’ve given him the chance. There’s no reason to be hiding [from his] country. He came all the way over here. I would’ve gone back over there, but they made it in Saudi Arabia. So, I think that was a fair choice.”

Andy Ruiz: I Wouldve Fought Joshua In UK If Money Was Right! https://t.co/MGEisoP19Y pic.twitter.com/pQufZUCamh

— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) September 6, 2019

Ruiz, after winning the titles from Joshua in an upset in June in New York stated to the media in attendance that it was part of the negotiation tactic. Ruiz now seems focus and is ready to retain the titles in the matchup which will air on the streaming service DAZN on December 7th.

“We were negotiating,” Ruiz said after the press conference. “I would fight wherever, man. The fighter’s gonna fight wherever. But it’s just the team, where they’re gonna negotiate and whatnot. I don’t think that’s my business to be saying, ‘You know what? I wanna fight here. I wanna fight there.’ … It wasn’t me. But wherever it is, you know, I’m gonna be there, I’m gonna be ready, and I’m gonna train hard, and I’m gonna win.”

Now, after some consideration, Ruiz is much more comfortable with the rematch taking place in Saudi Arabia.

“You know what?” Ruiz said. “A lot of people were saying bad things about over there, how it is, just because they have different rules, you know? They have different beliefs. But, you know what? When I went over there, they welcomed me very well. Everything was just organized very well and the people [treated me] well, so there’s nothing bad to say about that.”

This all sounds like a man who is happy with the terms of the rematch both in terms financially and in site location. Let’s see if Ruiz will be able to repeat his performance where he stopped Joshua in the seventh round in June at the Garden.