Sports
Andy Ruiz Jr. VS. Anthony Joshua: Date, Time, Live Stream Info For WBA, WBO and IBF Heavyweight Rematch
After winning 21 of his first 22 bouts by KO, the Briton suffered his first professional defeat in his American debut, as Ruiz shrugged off the tag of 11-1 underdog to drop Joshua four times.
Having hit the canvas in the third round, the Mexican recovered to floor Joshua twice in the same frame, before repeating the feat in the seventh.
The latter of those punches forced referee Mike Griffin to stop proceedings with 1:27 on the clock, as Ruiz completed one of the biggest shocks in the recent history of the heavyweight division.
Widely considered the overwhelming favorite ahead of the fight, Joshua’s first loss since turning pro saw him relinquish the WBA, WBO and IBF belts.
Those titles will be on the line again in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday afternoon and the Briton is determined to regain them.
“You are going to see me get better every step of the way,” the Briton told The Guardian.
“One loss can’t strip your skin off overnight, when you put your solid foundations in, one chip in the brick can’t destroy the whole building.”
In the lead-up to the rematch against Ruiz, Joshua has repeatedly denied claims from a number of rivals—chief among them Tyson Fury—that he has lost his appetite for the sport.
“Of course I wanted to be there,” the 31-year-old said back in November. “Tyson is at a different stage in his career, he would never understand what I’m going through. I was ready, I was in a good place.”
Ruiz, however, has vowed to stop Joshua again and defend his belts to prove his win in June was no fluke.
“It feels good. You know I made history in New York and I’ll make history again in Saudi Arabia,” he was quoted as saying by the BBC last week.
Reigning WBC world champion Deontay Wilder certainly believes the 30-year-old has what it takes to defeat Joshua again and told Sky Sports the Mexican will “win easily.”
Meanwhile, Eddie Hearn has defended the choice of fighting in Saudi Arabia, which will become the first Middle East country to stage a heavyweight world title fight.
Bringing the bout to Saudi Arabia has attracted criticism from human rights campaigners such as Amnesty International, who have suggested Saudi authorities are simply trying to hide their human rights behind a major sporting event.
Hearn, who has previously suggested the decision to stage the fight in Saudi Arabia was to broaden boxing’s horizons, hinted politics and sport remained separate.
“I can’t sit here and say it has nothing to do with me, but the bottom line is, I am not a politician,” the British promoter said.
“As ruthless as it is, I’ve got a job to do for my fighter. It doesn’t matter what I think, but I am happy and excited at how everything has gone.”
Here’s all you need to know about the rematch.
When is Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua?
The rematch between Joshua and Ruiz takes place on Saturday, December 7. The undercard gets underway at 12 p.m. ET, with the main event set to start at 4 p.m. ET.
Where is Andy Ruiz vs. Anthony Joshua?
The fight takes place in slightly unusual surroundings for heavyweight boxing, as it’s staged in the Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
The 16,000-capacity venue has been specifically built for the occasion.
TV coverage and live stream
The rematch between Joshua and Ruiz will not be available through the usual platforms in the U.S., including pay-per-view channels.
The fight will be exclusively broadcast by DAZN, which also carried the first bout between the two as well as several other major fights this year.
A one-month subscription to DAZN costs $19.99, while an annual pass—which gives viewers access to all of the platform’s live events—comes in at $99.99.
The price plan for Canadian viewers is slightly different, costing $20 CAD for the monthly subscription and $150 CAD for the annual plan.
The fight will be available via DAZN’s website as well as via the DAZN app on Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Playstation 4 and Playstation 3.
Odds
The bookmakers expect Joshua to avenge the defeat he suffered in the first bout against Ruiz.
According to Oddschecker, the Briton is a 12/25 favorite, while Ruiz is a 21/10 outsider and the draw is at 33/1.
Joshua is 12/1 to win between Round 5 and Round 8, while Ruiz is 22/1 to win in Round 7 and 25/1 to force a stoppage in either of the previous two rounds.
Pep Guardiola has stated that he will not take charge of Barcelona for a second spell as he insisted he retains the “desire” to succeed in England.
Guardiola is the most decorated coach in Barca’s glorious history after winning 14 trophies in four years in charge between 2008 and 2012.
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Josep Maria Bartomeu finally bowed to pressure to resign as president of the Catalan giants this week, with one of the leading candidates to take over, Victor Font, saying he wants to bring legends like Guardiola and his former players Xavi and Carles Puyol back to work for the club.
“I said many times, my period as a manager in Barcelona is over. I think in life there is once you have to do things,” Guardiola said after City’s 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday.
“There are incredible people who can be in charge, now for example (Barcelona coach) Ronald Koeman is an excellent manager. It is over.”
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A boyhood Barca fan, Guardiola also enjoyed an illustrious playing career at the Camp Nou and still holds season tickets as a supporter.
“I will come back to my seats to see my club to watch a game. I am incredibly happy here, still I have the desire to do well and this is the most important thing.
“Now there will be elections in Barcelona. Hopefully, they can choose the right board to maintain this incredible club Barcelona in the highest level.”
Guardiola is already into the longest managerial spell of his career with this his fifth season at City.
His side still look a long way off the heights they reached in winning back-to-back Premier League titles between 2017 and 2019, but they are slowly getting up to speed after a start to the campaign disrupted by injuries, coronavirus cases and just a two-week-long pre-season.
Kyle Walker’s long-range effort against his former club was enough to secure City’s fourth win in five games in all competitions as they move up to seventh in the Premier League, just two points off the top.
Without a natural striker due to injuries to Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, City struggled to turn their dominance into goals at Bramall Lane.
“We played really well,” added Guardiola. “We struggled to score goals for the chances we created, 16 shots, eight on target, is a lot against this team.”
Aaron Ramsdale was busy in the Blades’ goal as he twice denied Ferran Torres from close range, while he unconvincingly parried Rodrigo’s long-range effort behind.
Walker finally broke the deadlock from similar range on 28 minutes as his shot arrowed low past Ramsdale’s right-hand, but there was a muted celebration from the England international against his boyhood club.
“My mum and dad live here, so if I’d celebrated I’d have got a lot of stick,” said Walker. “I’m a Sheffield United fan, so I couldn’t celebrate.”
Kevin De Bruyne flashed a shot wide following another attacking burst from Walker early in the second-half before Ramsdale produced his best save of the game from Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick.
However, City’s failure to kill off the game gave Chris Wilder’s men chances to snatch an unlikely point.
John Lundstram had the best chance for the hosts when he side-footed Sander Berge’s low cross over.
But Sheffield United have still scored just three goals in seven games to start the season and remain second bottom on just one point.
(AFP)
Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s leading marksman in the series will return for next month’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone after missing out of this month’s friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia.
Also, midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and South Africa –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, were picked by Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr for the clash against the Leone Stars.
Rohr also called up Captain Ahmed Musa, defender William Ekong, midfield enforcer Oghenekaro Etebo.
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However, Genk forward, Cyriel Kolawole Dessers, was not invited after being capped in this month’s friendly.
Defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielder Alex Iwobi and forwards Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Chidera Ejuke are also called.
Switzerland –based goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe will hope to earn his first cap for Nigeria, while defenders Kevin Akpoguma and Zaidu Sanusi, who impressed in the friendlies in Austria, have been handed opportunities to add to their caps.
There are seven players on standby, including defender Abdullahi Shehu, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, midfielders Ramon Azeez and Samson Tijani, and forward Paul Onuachu.
“The Super Eagles take on the Leone Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Friday, 13th November before flying to Freetown for the return game on Tuesday, 17th November at the Siaka Stevens Stadium.
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“Players are expected to report at the Protea Hotel Emotan in Benin City on Monday, 9th November. Victory in both encounters will all but guarantee Nigeria a slot at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finals holding in Cameroon,” a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation’s spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, added in reports by Punch Newspapers.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers:
Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Sebastian Osigwe (FC Lugano, Switzerland); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders:
Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany)
Midfielders:
Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, Netherlands); Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland, Denmark); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
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Forwards:
Ahmed Musa (Unattached); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure (Club Brugge, Belgium); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
Standby:
Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Samson Tijani (TSV Hartberg, Austria); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus); Ramon Azeez (Granada CF, Spain); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium)
BBC Sport requested its zillions of readers to rate Pele’s achievements among some other Greatest Of All Times as he turns 80.
The result has been assessed and made public as Pele was ranked the greatest, followed by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo in third.
Here is the full result:
1: Pele (Santos, NY Cosmos & Brazil)
World Cup wins: 1958, 1962, 1970 European Cup/Champions League wins: 0
Ballons d’Or: 0
League titles: 7
International caps/goals: 92/77
2: Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 4
Ballons d’Or: 6
League titles: 10
International caps/goals: 140/71
3: Cristiano Ronaldo (Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus & Portugal)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 5
Ballons d’Or: 5
League titles: 7
International caps/goals: 167/101
4: Diego Maradona (Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys & Argentina)
World Cup wins: 1986
European Cup/Champions League wins: 0
Ballons d’Or: 0
League titles: 3
International caps/goals: 91/34
5: Johan Cruyff (Ajax, Barcelona, LA Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante, Feyenoord & the Netherlands)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 3
Ballons d’Or: 3
League titles: 10
International caps/goals: 48/33
6: Ronaldo de Lima (Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, Milan, Corinthians & Brazil)
World Cup wins: 1994, 2002
European Cup/Champions League wins: 0
Ballons d’Or: 2
League titles: 1
International caps/goals: 98/62
7: Franz Beckenbauer (Bayern Munich, NY Cosmos, Hamburg & West Germany)
World Cup wins: 1974
European Cup/Champions League wins: 3
Ballons d’Or: 2
League titles: 8
International caps/goals: 103/14
8: Zinedine Zidane (Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid & France)
World Cup wins: 1998
European Cup/Champions League wins: 1
Ballons d’Or: 1
League titles: 3
International caps/goals: 108/31
9: Ferenc Puskas (Budapest Honved, Real Madrid & Hungary & Spain)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 3
Ballons d’Or: 0
League titles: 10
International caps/goals: 89/87
10: Alfredo di Stefano (River Plate, Millionarios, Real Madrid, Espanyol & Argentina, Colombia & Spain)
World Cup wins: 0
European Cup/Champions League wins: 5
Ballons d’Or: 2
League titles: 13
International caps/goals: 41/29
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