Anthony Joshua has described his first defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr as just a "little blip" and has vowed to expose world champion Andy Ruiz Jr in their rematch.
"A little blip should not change you as a person," Joshua exclusively told Sky Sports from Saudi Arabia at a press conference on Wednesday.
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Ruiz Jr v Joshua II: Big fight details
- When: December 7, 2019
- Where: Open-air 12,000-seat stadium in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
- TV Channel: Sky Sports Box Office
- Records: Ruiz 33-1, 22 KOs. Joshua 22-1, 21 KOs
- Titles on the line: WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO
- Sky Bet odds: Joshua 1/3 (8/11 KO/TKO/DQ, 3/1 points), Ruiz 9/4 (11/4 by KO, 12/1 points)
"You should stay consistent with who you are. I can become familiar with him. I know what I'm in for. I know what I'm capable of. I know what he's capable of.
"I know some of the attributes he possesses, and some of the weaknesses. I have to go about exposing him a little bit more.
"The first time I had him down [in the first fight], I could have been smarter. These little things you think about in your head.
"Now I meet him eye-to-eye again and, subconsciously, the clock is ticking and I start thinking more and more about the fight."
Joshua and Ruiz Jr went face to face for the first time since their first fight when they reconvened on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia, the location of their rematch.
Ruiz Jr told Sky Sports: "He'll bring his game, I'll bring mine. I said I would win, I said I would pull off an upset but nobody believed me except my team.
"Having that confidence and fire inside you? If you want to accomplish something, you're going to do it. Joshua is focused to get these belts back but so am I. The Mexican blood in me will [help me to] pull it off.
"I respect Joshua. He is a good friend although he probably doesn't like me now! But inside the ring there will be no respect, there will be no friends.
"I am always the nice guy but inside the ring I [flick] the switch and I become 'The Destroyer'."
