Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr will take place in Saudi Arabia on December 7, his promoters Matchroom have announced.
Joshua will be bidding to win back the IBF, WBA and WBO titles which Ruiz ripped from him in a stunning four-knockdown upset at Madison Square Garden in June.
The rematch will be the latest high-profile boxing event to be held in the country after Amir Khan’s victory over Australian Billy Dib in July.
It’s official! 👊 @Andy_destroyer1 vs @anthonyfjoshua 2 will take place in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on December 7 🇸🇦 #RuizJoshua2 #ClashOnTheDunes #COTD pic.twitter.com/JqR41ffxQw
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) August 9, 2019
The Kingdom also hosted the World Boxing Super Series super-middleweight final between British pair Callum Smith and George Groves last year.
Joshua’s bout with Ruiz Jr will take place in Diriyah, a town on the outskirts of the capital Riyadh, which incorporates the UNESCO World Heritage site of Al-Turaif.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium was among the venues proposed for the rematch but Ruiz Jr had insisted the bout must take place either back in the United States or on neutral territory.
-Press Association
