"Dune Fight" in Saudi Arabia "Can change the face of boxing forever"

Boxing world heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz, to be held in the Saudi city of Diriyah, near Riyadh, could change the face of boxing forever, said the promoter.

The battle, the largest in Saudi Arabia, will take place after Anglo-Australian Prince Amir Khan and Billy Deeb in July.

Joshua will try to win the titles of the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association (WBA) and the World Heavyweight Boxing Organization (WWE), which he won at Madison Square Gardens in New York. Last June.

Amnesty International criticized Saudi Arabia's decision to hold the quiz, given the Kingdom's human rights record, allegedly involved in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and in the war in Yemen.

A report released by Human Rights Watch also raised a number of issues related to Saudi Arabia, including arresting women's rights activists, preventing her from traveling without permission of their guardian and obtaining passports without the permission of their parents.

But Eddie Hearns, the promoter of the fight, defended the decision to choose the venue, noting that Saudi Arabia had already hosted a number of important sports competitions.

"There is a lot of confusion about the venue, but we wanted to go to a country that believes in boxing and in a country that has the vision," said Hernes at a conference press release in London on Monday.

"We need to understand that there is a world outside of Cardiff and Madison Square Garden that will forever change the face of boxing, and you may see a dramatic change in the dynamics of the sport."

"The time has come to change things here (in Saudi Arabia) and they are trying to do it through sport," said the promoter.

"Some people think that you can not go to Saudi Arabia or that women will not be allowed to fight, on the contrary, women and men are welcome, you just have to buy a ticket and you will automatically get a visa. Saudi Arabia is only six hours away. " By plane. "

"We understand some criticisms, but we also understand that there are many sports organizations that have preceded us in this way, which are larger than us," he said.

"Look at Formula 1, the European Golf Championship, the Italian Super Cup and the World Wrestling Federation.The fight will be a symbolic moment for boxing."

Saudi Arabia was chosen at the request of Ruiz, who did not want to fight in Britain, Joshua's homeland.

"This fight will go down in history as one of the biggest struggles, no less than the biggest that Muhammad Ali Clay fought in Manila and Kinshasa," said Hearns.

"It's a fight by which Joshua will try to win back the world title, Joshua must win, and the whole world will testify."

"Less satisfied"

However, Steve Pence, a BBC boxing analyst, said defending champion Ruiz would be no more comfortable with Joshua in Saudi Arabia than Mexico, the United States or even Great Britain. Britain.

Pans said the battle in a Middle Eastern country would give Joshua a "preference".

"I think Ruiz prefers to fight in Mexico, Los Angeles or New York, and I do not think it would be too much of a nuisance if the fight were in Cardiff, but hosting him in Saudi Arabia would be a culture shock. for him."

"Joshua spends a lot of time in Dubai and I know it is not Saudi Arabia, but the Middle East," said the analyst. You do not misunderstand The fight would be somewhat in Joshua's favor. "