Ahead of this weekend’s big heavyweight title fight in Saudi Arabia former champion Anthony Joshua has been taking a lot of heat both from fans and from some fellow fighters with the pressure really on.
Most notably fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury.
He’s fired back at Tyson Fury following the latter’s suggestions as it pertains to the handling of his career.
Fury has advised Joshua to quit boxing if he loses to Andy Ruiz again, with the Watford-born boxer having lost to (the then-chubby) Mexican six months ago.
His boxing career is now at risk of taking a serious hit as a second consecutive loss to Ruiz would leave him out in the cold in terms of the heavyweight division’s top tier.
Joshua surrendered his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles to his upcoming opponent after the loss back in June.
He had never suffered a defeat prior to that fight and it came as a huge shock to the boxing world it must be said.
Fury has suggested that Joshua should hang up the gloves if he suffers another loss to Ruiz when they meet in Saudi Arabia early next month.
Joshua, though, has rebuffed the unsolicited advice claiming that he’s looking to box until he’s 50 due to his love for the sport.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ ‘Gloves Are Off’ show on Wednesday night (h/t The Sun), he said: “It is weird because you get, ‘Ah, if you lose your next fight you should retire.’ I say, ‘You didn’t tell me to get in the gym so who are you to tell me to get out of the gym?’
He added:
“I swear I’ll fight till I’m 50. I fight because I love the game.”
Joshua and Ruiz got in the same room for the first time since the former’s surprise loss, coming face-to-face on the show recently.
Ruiz wasted no time reminding him of the previous result.
Joshua vs Ruiz 2 Betting Preview
The former champion is the bookmakers’ favourite to win the upcoming bout and folks keen on placing bets on it could get the scoop on all top boxing betting markets from freebets.co.uk; a ranking of the top 10 boxing heavyweights could also be found here.
Skybet has Joshua at 4/9 to reclaim bragging rights while his soon-to-be opponent is at 2/1.
Skybet are also offering 28/1 odds on a Draw.
Bet365 has Joshua to win by KO, TKO or Disqualification at 4/5 and Ruiz 11/4 with the same results.
The British boxer is 4/1 to win by Decision or Technical Decision; Ruiz is at 12/1.
A Draw or Technical Draw is 33/1 with Betfair.
Overall, people tend to have Joshua as the favorite going into the fight but as last time showed, when it comes to the heavyweight division — all bets can be off once that first big bomb lands.
What a part two it promises to be.
Roll on.
