So where will the Ruiz-Joshua rematch finally take place?

[Primo Carnera]

We can say where we want it to be, where we think it will be, but ultimately whether we like it or not, the rematch will be where Eddie says it’ll be.
They made the contract with the clauses and Ruiz signed it.
Yep, we can cry that’s it’s not fair and all that, but it is what it is.

[Spicoli]

As long as a champion is meeting nearly all top challenges and unifying I can't knock a guy for not traveling for the sake of traveling. Roy should have traveled or at least attempted Benn or Michalczewski. But he was spoiled a bit on a HBO contract that gave green lights to 101 random mandatories. Hopkins had it locked down at 160 with top 10 basically all American. Who was he supposed to chase McCracken? Times are different now, the sport and media exposure has exploded Globally. Shoot he went to Ecuador for a strap and had one of the toughest wars of his early career thanks largely to massive elevation and cutting corners . Grabbed his 'real' 175 up in ol Canada. Twice if you count the bs "draw" call. Have to remember also that the U.S isn't tiny, there are massive historical rivalries East to West coast where some Cities and venues are arguably hostile and foreign enough . Ruiz holds the belts, Joshua wants them back. I still think the longer it's haggard the stripping starts. Do think Andy and Joshua may be cutting off their noses to spite their faces if they stay so grounded on Mexico or U.K rather than anywhere U.S.A. I get it money talks but fans travel too.

[TitoFan]

To each his own I guess. Say what you will about Wlad (I was never a fan), but the guy did travel quite a bit. Fought a lot in Germany yes.... but also did plenty of time in the States, and would fight anywhere it seems. Contrast this with Joshua, who has fought exclusively in the UK save for that one time he ventured out to MSG and got his ass handed to him. At least from here it looks like the kid who beckons to the bully from behind his parents' skirts. To those who say home advantage is not a factor I say good for you. I think it definitely plays a role. If you're a real champ you go anywhere and get it.

[smashup]

Saudi Arabia

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/boxing/2...abia-december/

[Fenster]

Spicoli - the all-time-great, B-Hop, was knocked down twice and scraped a draw with a man who never got close to the top, before or after (nobody would ever believe Mercado not only beat Hopkins but stopped him). Imagine the stick Golovkin or Canelo would get for Mercado?

The very fact Hopkins dominated the rematch, back home in the USA, which he wouldn't leave again for 20 years, and the "excuses" for Ecuador were all about the "climate," alien conditions and surroundings is a perfect example of exactly why home advantage is so important to fighters.

Imagine if Floyd fought Castillo in Mexico? He'd almost definitely have one loss on his record, probably two. And would never have generated the stardom or money his "0" allowed them to exploit.

[Fenster]

Wlad was knocked out in his 25th fight to journeyman Ross Purity, he had 10 more fights before challenging for the WBO title, the few times he fought in America were "off-TV," undercard bouts.

Joshua has had 23 fights and just headlined the biggest heavyweight fight in America for over a decade.

((before you start screaming i'm a "fanboy" and "cocksucker" and have my "head up his arse" i'm merely highlighting the comparison doesn't fit, not that Joshua deserves any special treatment or I even think he's anything special, I don't and never have. Fact.))

[TitoFan]

The fact that Wlad was knocked out by Puritty (and Sanders.... and Brewster) just strengthens my argument. Thanks.

Immediately after losing to Brewster, his next fight was in the States. From there on out it seems every other fight was in the States. He goes back to being champion and continues fighting in the States.

Comparing number of fights is meaningless. Wlad took a lot longer to fight for a championship, is all. Once he became champion, he fought as much outside Germany as he did in Germany.

He didn't cower in Germany after the first time he got knocked out.

In comparison, Joshua became champion rather quickly, the whole time in the comfort of home. The first time he ventures outside..... BAM!

Now he refuses to leave the UK and wants Ruiz to come to him.

Fact.

[smashup]

Anyway...... back on topic 👍🏻
Saudi Arabia is 2 hours ahead of the UK and 7 hours ahead of New York City.

Midnight in Saudi gives us 5pm USA & 10pm in the UK

That works for me 😎

[TitoFan]

Anyway...... back on topic 👍🏻
Saudi Arabia is 2 hours ahead of the UK and 7 hours ahead of New York City.

Midnight in Saudi gives us 5pm USA & 10pm in the UK

That works for me 😎

Thanks.

BTW, I think you had mentioned something about the crowd. Curiously, I myself have a problem imagining a screaming crowd of fans in a Saudi venue. Neutral, but blah.

[smashup]

Anyway...... back on topic 👍🏻
Saudi Arabia is 2 hours ahead of the UK and 7 hours ahead of New York City.

Midnight in Saudi gives us 5pm USA & 10pm in the UK

That works for me 😎

Thanks.

BTW, I think you had mentioned something about the crowd. Curiously, I myself have a problem imagining a screaming crowd of fans in a Saudi venue. Neutral, but blah.

It'll be worse than Tyson v Douglas, no UK fans will go due to the fact there's no chance of fucking any women and a strict no alcohol policy in the entire country.

[Gandalf]

Anyway...... back on topic 👍🏻
Saudi Arabia is 2 hours ahead of the UK and 7 hours ahead of New York City.

Midnight in Saudi gives us 5pm USA & 10pm in the UK

That works for me 😎

I morally oppose it. Would prefer the States tbh.

[smashup]

AJ's lost a LOAD of muscle, hopefully less of the weights and focusing on speed for the rematch.

He looks like a cruiserweight in this pic.

https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2019...-loss-rematch/

[Mark TKO]

Saudi Arabia just announced.

Joke ffs but this will be the future for the big ones.

[TitoFan]

Shades of Ali-Foreman in Zaire. Ultimate neutral place if there ever was one. Although Ali and Foreman were both Americans, any venue in the States would've probably leaned one way or the other depending on where the fight was held. So Ali and Foreman went to frigging Zaire to fight. Now Ruiz and Joshua will get it on in Saudi Arabia. At least in Zaire the crowd was excited and acted as such. Still don't know about the excitement level in Saudi Arabia, not exactly a hotbed for sports.

[TitoFan]

BTW..... I should've made the poll shorter

I see a late vote for Saudi Arabia.