Four Talking Points of the Anthony Joshua v Andy Ruiz II Fight .
As we near the
rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia on Saturday,
the former world heavyweight champion (Anthony Joshua) has repeatedly promised
to "tell everyone" the story behind his shock defeat on 1 June - if
he wins this time.
Wild
conspiracy theories have been shot down by his team but the 30-year-old's words
mean there is little doubt he feels something sent him into their first meeting
on a weakened footing.
But what
could he possibly reveal? And what did the 5 Live Boxing team glean from
Tuesday's public workouts, where Ruiz showed the kind of dazzling hand speed
that caught even Joshua's eye.
Here are
four key points from the fight week so far.
As Ruiz
worked out under the Riyadh night sky, Joshua at one stage looked back at the
ring, his smile disappearing as his rival fired off rapid shots.
Around 300
people surrounded the ring as the 30-year-old Mexican went through his
repertoire and BBC Radio 5 Live Boxing's Mike Costello and Steve Bunce were
intent on not overlooking the clues they missed before that June upset.

"Suddenly,
just like in New York, you realise how fast he is," said Bunce. "He
throws the left hook that troubled Joshua, it's like lightning.
"The
speed, we aren't shocked by it now. The balance, we aren't shocked by that now.
The jabs, though, they are pulverising."
Joshua's
physique has drawn scrutiny, with some - including promoter Eddie Hearn -
stating he could "surprise people" by being lighter in order to aid
speed.
Bunce saw no
extreme weight loss as the Briton trained in a tracksuit, and internet
speculation that Ruiz has slimmed down also appeared to be wide of the mark.
"Beneath
the black T-shirt he is still carrying plenty of flab but he moves rapidly from
the waist," said Costello. "The ease of his movement and blistering
speed of his punches grabs me."
The open
workouts came 24 hours after Joshua again referenced "obstacles" and
how he "went wrong" in the build-up to face Ruiz at Madison Square
Garden.
We know his
father angrily approached promoter Hearn in the ring after the loss, increasing
speculation something was amiss.
It is also
understood that some in Joshua's team were not keen on Ruiz being the late
stand-in opponent after Jarrell Miller failed multiple drugs tests.
His training
has also come under scrutiny and Joshua has pushed to include more boxing in
his regime. At his workout, he spoke of an "evolution" in his
approach.
And he has
also alluded to being "drained" last time out. Could it be that this
is what was actually the root of his frustrations? Media commitments and
commercial responsibilities have since been tightened to reduce his workload.
It is
growing increasingly clear that a series of small frustrations built up before
he lost the WBA, IBF and WBO titles. Should he win his belts back on Saturday,
his account of one of the sport's most shocking defeats could be illuminating.
Ruiz's life
was transformed after he became Mexico's first heavyweight world champion in
New York.
Appearances
on talk shows, a meeting with his country's president, a lavish new home and
high-end cars began to appear on his social media pages, prompting questions as
to whether he could maintain his hunger given his new status.
"Andy
Ruiz in New York, we interviewed him and had 20 minutes with him," said
Bunce. "Now we get a couple of minutes.
"It's a
different ballgame now as he has been catapulted into stardom. More diamonds,
more watches, houses and pressure. He has never had this before."
Bunce has
been impressed with Joshua's approach to fight week, saying the Briton appears
focused and a "different fighter" mentally to the one seen in New
York.
"His
team have told me he is simply here to win, not win people over," said
Bunce.

Costello
added: "He is talking like a man who is needing, I don't want to say to
salvage his career as that is too strong, but it's not far short. It is not all
over if he is beaten here - it depends how he is beaten - but it would be a
long, long way back."
Joshua and
Ruiz worked out in the same ring that will stage Saturday's Diriyah Arena bout.
The ring - which has been transported from London's York Hall - will
subsequently be housed in a Saudi royal palace as a monument to the event.
Mike
Goodall, who organised the shipping and construction of the ring, said:
"We have to build it in the prince's palace. He's a boxing enthusiast.
Blood, gore, everything that's on it, he wants it in his palace."
Organisers
have sought to showcase the country as a tourist destination by staging the
event and put forward a deal that will reportedly earn Joshua around £70m.
However, talk of the fight in Riyadh itself has so far been at a premium.
"It
will be lively rather than raucous if this is any guide to the make up of the
crowd on Saturday," said Costello when assessing those in attendance at
the open workouts.
"There
is no roof on the stadium but it may not be the kind of noise to raise
it."
FROM bbc.com/sport/boxing
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