![]() Ruiz, who left Eddy Reynoso after the win over Arreola and hired Alfredo Osuna as his trainer, came in at 269 pounds at Saturday’s weigh-in and looked in reasonably good condition. "Sometimes it would be better against a Brit, but if not I follow the mandatories and defend them that way.Ruiz ended up winning by unanimous decision. "Looking at how many people came out here shows there is still a big interest in the heavyweight division, especially now we are taking the belts back. Joshua said to defend his belts "on home soil would be big news" after promoter Eddie Hearn revealed he had been in discussions over a fight at Tottenham's new 60,000-capacity stadium, most likely against Pulev. "All challengers are welcome to take on this current unified champion." "I can't keep on fighting all the champions, the best in the division and then other people who say they want to step up don't step up. Once that is out of the way they can start mentioning my name. Wilder has a fight with Fury in February. "If the opportunity presents itself I will fight Wilder and Fury. "Sooner or later I will be looking directly at the undisputed championship of the world. "Looking so far ahead it can be a blurry vision looking that far out," Joshua told BBC Sport. Listen: Highlights of Ruiz-Joshua fightĬhasing a contest with compatriot Tyson Fury was also dismissed as Joshua said he hoped to focus on one "hurdle" at a time.He said he was no longer interested in calling out WBC champion Deontay Wilder for a historic bout with all four world heavyweight titles on the line. Joshua is now expected to face either the WBO's mandatory challenger - currently Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk - or the man in the same position with the IBF, Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev. Joshua, who will return to the UK in the early hours of Monday morning with the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, was on the front of Sunday's Saudi newspapers, alongside Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, who attended his fight.ĭespite widespread criticism of staging the bout in a country criticised for its human rights record, Joshua said he would "100%" be happy to return to the kingdom on holiday or to perform. The two-time world heavyweight champion also said he learned a valuable lesson not to accept opponents at short notice - Ruiz was drafted in six weeks before their fight after American Jarrell Miller failed three drug tests. He now says he feels "back" and "focused". Theories aired in the interim had ranged from him having shown the effects of being concussed in sparring to having a seizure before the bout at Madison Square Garden. 'With the fear of humiliation came Joshua's best display'.Joshua 'emotional' after regaining heavyweight world titles.Joshua had hinted previously that he had something to reveal about what went on before his first career defeat and, after initial hesitation, provided at least some insight to the 5 Live Boxing podcast. Joshua refused to say what the operation was but it is understood the procedure he had was linked to the issue diagnosed after his defeat by Ruiz. "Even in this camp I had an operation done but as I'd started training in June I had no issues." He added: "After my check-ups it showed what the problem was and this is what you have to get sorted. "Now I have energy, I haven't missed a session." All that stuff, feeling so tired, dealing with obligations. "The responsibilities of being world champion are difficult. Mike Costello's commentary of Joshua's winning moment.How social media reacted to Joshua's win. ![]() 5 live boxing podcast: AJ the morning after and final thoughts from Saudi Arabia."In the changing room before the fight I got a bucket of ice and was putting my head in it thinking 'why do I feel so tired?' I felt so tired and drained and thought it must be down to training. The Briton added: "I didn't know what was wrong with me. "I had some issue with my health which I was going through for a long time," Joshua told the 5 Live Boxing podcast. Conspiracy theories had circulated after his initial defeat, one of the biggest shocks in heavyweight history.
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