AJ ready to erupt – Hearn

4:45

Eddie Hearn speaks to Sky Sports’ Adam Smith in Las Vegas about Anthony Joshua’s fight with Andy Ruiz Jr, as well as Canelo vs Jacobs

Eddie Hearn speaks to Sky Sports’ Adam Smith in Las Vegas about Anthony Joshua’s fight with Andy Ruiz Jr, as well as Canelo vs Jacobs

Andy Ruiz Jr firmly believes he can dethrone Anthony Joshua, but Britain’s unified champion is ‘ready to erupt’ on his US debut, says promoter Eddie Hearn.

Ruiz Jr will face the WBA ‘Super’, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion at Madison Square Garden on June 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office, after Joshua’s original opponent Jarrell Miller failed a drug test.

“I’m just glad that AJ and the people who know boxing, know what a difficult fight this is because when you look at the guy, you think it’s going to be easy work for Anthony Joshua,” Hearn told Sky Sports.

Mexican Ruiz Jr has lost just once in 33 fights as a professional

“A lot of people think this guy’s not in Joshua’s shape, he’s not. But he’s got a tremendous boxing IQ, fast hands, good work rate and he’s not afraid to let his hands go. He’s one of the reasons I wanted to choose him because I know him, I know what he’s all about.

“Look at his response today, and look at the response from people in boxing – they say this is a much better fight than Jarrell Miller because he has much faster hands, he likes to move inside, he has a great amateur pedigree as well, and this is a massive banana skin.

2:22

Joshua says a fight with Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder ‘has to happen’ after his June 1 fight with Ruiz Jr

Joshua says a fight with Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder ‘has to happen’ after his June 1 fight with Ruiz Jr

“AJ doesn’t really have a lot to gain, because the outsiders are saying ‘he’ll win that fight easy’, but talk to people around here and you’ll get the reaction from them today. They know this is a real, real, tough, tough fight.

“Andy Ruiz has a chance to make history and become the first-ever Mexican world heavyweight champion. Mexico is behind Ruiz and he believes he’s going to do it. He really believes he’ll beat Joshua.

“With everything that has happened, AJ is ready to erupt at Madison Square Garden. He can’t wait to make his American debut. It’s going to be an amazing week. We’ve got the most unbelievable activities planned around the fight.

“It’s going to be a huge moment for his career. He’s just got to be on it and focused, because Ruiz is going to be a little pitbull in the ring at Madison Square Garden.”

Watch Anthony Joshua against Andy Ruiz Jr and Katie Taylor’s undisputed world lightweight title fight versus Delfine Persoon at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office.