Photos: Andy Ruiz, Anthony Joshua – A face to face in New York

Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua were in the second leg of their promotional tour for the world heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia at a press conference in New York on Thursday. (photos by Ed Mulholland)

Groups like Amnesty International have expressed concern over the decision to organize the December 7 fight in Saudi Arabia in the light of its human rights record, saying the kingdom would use the 39, one of the biggest sporting events to help cleanse its image.

Joshua, who lost his IBF, WBA, IBO and WBO belts following a surprising defeat against Ruiz Jr. in New York in June, said it was a "blessing to be in Saudi Arabia" and that he had never thought that he would fight outside his country. Great Britain or the United States.

The first battle for the heavyweight title in the Middle East will take place despite the outcry over the brutal assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on Wednesday. latest. Saudi Arabia denied any involvement of the Crown Prince, but his own investigation acknowledged that the operation was planned by two of the prince's chief advisers.