Two of the best heavyweights in the world square off once again on Saturday afternoon (3:45 p.m. ET/12:45 p.m. PT) when Andy Ruiz Jr. puts the IBF, WBA (super) and WBO heavyweight titles on the line against former unified champion Anthony Joshua.
WBC titlist Deontay Wilder, who has a rematch of his own on the horizon, will be highly interested in the result of the Joshua-Ruiz fight. If Wilder gets by Tyson Fury on Feb. 22, then an undisputed title match against this weekend's winner could be in the cards later in 2020.
Many boxing pundits claimed Joshua quit after getting knocked down by Ruiz for the fourth and final time back in June at Madison Square Garden. In a video released Thursday on the Premier Boxing Champions Twitter page, "The Bronze Bomber" shared the same sentiment and said Joshua will be facing more than just Ruiz in the ring.
"I've said it many times, and I'll say it again, I don't think Joshua understands how he lost in that fight," Wilder said in the video. "He got knocked down four times, and then he quit. That is huge for me. On the outside looking in, to see how that fight occurred and everything that was going on, I think he's going to be fighting his demons inside of that ring, not just Ruiz. I know he's trying to cancel out a lot of things in his mind, especially, including me, his biggest and ultimate rival."
Coming into the rematch, Wilder feels his PBC stablemate has the advantage due to what happened a little more than six months ago, and because of that, Ruiz will leave Saudi Arabia with all of his belts.
"I think Ruiz has the momentum to go in and do it again," Wilder said. "It definitely was a big confidence builder and a booster for him to win that first one, especially after getting put on his ass and getting back up and then to put Joshua down four times. It changed his life. But coming [out with a win] in the rematch can change his life forever.
"And for those reasons, I'm leaning towards Ruiz. But we know this is boxing and anything can happen. Most of all, I wish those guys nothing but luck, great health going in, and even better health coming out."