‘Hungry’ Joshua says no celebration if he beats Ruiz

Anthony Joshua said Wednesday he will not celebrate if he regains his world heavyweight title, as he faced off with rival Andy Ruiz in a final press conference before their controversial rematch in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua seeks to win back the IBF, WBA and WBO titles that he lost to Ruiz in a shock June defeat in New York in a high-profile duel on Saturday, dubbed “Clash on the Dunes”.

The British boxer said he was “hungry, determined and focused” as he appeared alongside Ruiz in a press conference in Diriyah, close to the Saudi capital Riyadh.

“I am not here to put on a show, I am here to win,” he said.

“When I regain those belts… I am going to keep calm, stay focused. It’s not time to celebrate. It’s a time to keep that challenger mindset and move on to the next target.”

But Ruiz insisted he would stay unbeaten.

“I made my dreams come true (in New York),” he said.

“There’s no way that I’m going to let these belts go.”

Mexican-American heavyweight boxing champion Andy Ruiz Jr (L), and British heavyweight boxing challenger Anthony Joshua (R) face each other, as Eddie Hearn (C) looks on during their press conference in Diriyah in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on December 4, 2019, ahead of the upcoming “Clash on the Dunes”. – The hotly-anticipated rematch between Ruiz Jr and British challenger Anthony Joshua is scheduled to take place in Diriya, near the Saudi capital on December 7. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)

Saturday’s bout is mired in controversy.

The Saudis have faced intense diplomatic fallout over last year’s murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the conservative kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul.

Activists accuse Saudi rulers of using sport as a tool to try and soften their international image.

In February, they hosted a first European Tour golf event while the world’s most grueling motor sports race, the Dakar Rally, will be held in the country in 2020.