London (AFP)
Eddie Hearn, the promoter of British boxer Anthony Joshua, defended Monday in London his controversial idea of organizing the revenge against the American Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia for the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles, saying that "it can change boxing ".
The Joshua-Ruiz II fight will take place on December 7, 2019 in a small Saudi city of Dariya, six months after the surprise defeat of the British at Madison Square Garden.
"There was a lot of talk about where the fight would be, and for us, you had to go somewhere where you believe in boxing, where you have a vision," Hearn said. the press.
"We need to understand that there is a world other than Cardiff and Madison Square Garden that could change boxing forever," he added, referring to other major sporting events in the Saudi kingdom.
"Look at all the events that happened there before us: there was the Formula 1, the European golf circuit (EPGA, ed), the Italian Supercup and the wrestling", enumerated the man of 'business, convinced that' it will be an iconic moment for boxing. '
Amnesty International has sharply criticized Saudi Arabia's choice, citing a record of human rights violations, the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the country's war in Yemen.
The businessman sees, on the contrary, the benefit of holding this clash of titans in Saudi Arabia to change attitudes: "There is change there, they try to do it through sport". "People think we should not go to Saudi Arabia, or that women are not welcome to the show, but men and women are welcome," he said.
Since his defeat by KO in the seventh recovery, Anthony Joshua, then undefeated, tries to rehabilitate his damaged image by activating the clause of revenge that his camp was relevantly included in the contract.
© 2019 AFP