Holyfield Backs Andy Ruiz To Beat Anthony Joshua In Rematch

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Joshua has now exercised an immediate rematch clause, and the second fight is being targeted for a date to come down at the end of the year.

Hall of Famer and four time heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield, is backing Andy Ruiz to win the rematch with Anthony Joshua.

Last month at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Ruiz pulled off a huge upset when he dropped Joshua four times to secure a seventh round stoppage and captured the WBO, WBA, IBF, IBO world titles.

Joshua has now exercised an immediate rematch clause, and the second fight is being targeted for a date to come down at the end of the year.

Holyfield was very impressed with the performance from Ruiz.

“[The heavyweight division] is growing. With the fight we saw between Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua, it shows that when someone believes in himself, he can achieve what he sets out to do,” Holyfield told George Ebro.

Holyfield believes Joshua was not prepared for the constant pressure that came from Ruiz.

“Everything will depend on Joshua. If he does not get used to the pressure, the same thing will be repeated in the second fight. Ruiz has to make the same kind of fight, stay on him all the time. Joshua was not in the best condition on the first occasion and he must prepare for that kind of pressure,” Holyfield said.

“Trust comes from the mental. We all know that Joshua is a good fighter, who is strong, but that’s what happens when you apply pressure to a person. Pressure devours those who are not prepared to face it.”

As far as the outcome, Holyfield is backing for Ruiz to bring his four titles back home.

“Yes [I do expect the same outcome], because Ruiz would fight in the same way. He has no fear, he takes risks, and those who take risks have more opportunities to win and become world champions,” Holyfield said.