Underdog boxer Andy Ruiz Jr who knocked out Briton champion Anthony Joshua to claim, the WBA Super, IBF and IBO has expressed his desire to stage his rematch with the star held within his home, Mexico.
The US-born Ruiz fights under the Mexican flag because his parents were born there and he would love to fight Joshua in the country he calls home.
The 29-year-old, Ruiz, is immensely proud to be Mexico’s first world heavyweight champ after dethroning Joshua in his shock win at Madison Square Garden over the weekend and says he is open to a rematch.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn wants the return in the UK before the year comes to an end with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium the most likely venue, but Ruiz is differently determined to push for Mexico.
“I’d love to do the rematch, but first I’ve got to talk to my team,” said the newly-crowned WBA Super, IBF and WBO king. “We’ll go from there and figure things out.
“I’d love it to be in Mexico. There’s never been a heavyweight champion in Mexico so I’d love to have a rematch there.
“I’m still pinching myself that this is true, all that hard work and dedication, I’ve made my dreams come true, “We’ve been working for this my whole life. It’s overwhelming and I’m just excited.”
Joshua has insisted he will bounce back from his first professional defeat with a rematch with Ruiz on the cards.
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“I come from a good family,” said the now former WBA Super, IBF and WBO champ. “Where I was as a lad, I’ve been in more s**t than this. I’ve dealt with some big losses and bounced back.
“Life is a journey and if I was to look back at my setbacks back then, and I had stopped what I was doing, I’d have been f****d.
🤜 🥊 🤛 Femi ✊🏿
Anthony Joshua vowed to "get the belts back" after calling his sensational heavyweight world-title defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr a "minor setback". pic.twitter.com/DFgOGYlbOB
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) June 2, 2019
“But I didn’t do that. I kept my head strong. I walked like a champion and bounced back.“I feel this is just part of the journey I’m on. This is boxing.
“It’s a test, but it’s not the ultimate test because there are going to be plenty more. I’ll address the situation and move forward.”