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SPORTS Thursday 5 december 2019
AP Interview: Joshua out to regain aura, belts in rematch

By STEVE DOUGLAS challenge of Ruiz Jr. — a and his mentality. "Last time done that." Time will tell, from my memory and I'm
AP Sports Writer portly Mexican with a big when I lost, I understood but there's a sense Joshua approaching it like I'm fight-
Anthony Joshua didn't just heart, fast hands and un- why," Joshua told the AP in is more comfortable in Sau- ing for the heavyweight
lose three world heavy- expected power. Ruiz Jr., a phone interview after ar- di Arabia than he was in championship of the world,
weight titles and an un- which I am. I'm not looking
defeated record when he at it as a rematch," Joshua
was beaten by Andy Ruiz said.
Jr. in one of boxing's big- "Even though I've had a
gest upsets in a genera- belt around my waist, I've
tion. always had that challenger
He lost his aura, his growing mindset because even in
sense of invincibility. my 15th fight, I challenged
So Joshua has had to re- for the British title. The 16th
invent himself, strip every- (was for the) world title, de-
thing back and, in a sense, fend, defend, challenge
start all over. again, so it's part and par-
That began by going back cel of the game now. I'm
to his roots in Nigeria. used to the tough chal-
"Because of boxing, I've lenges."
never had time to go Another loss to Ruiz Jr. —
there," Joshua told The As- in a fight with a reported
sociated Press of his first $70 million purse and be-
return in 17 years to the ing televised by the DAZN
homeland of his parents streaming service — and
and where he briefly went there would be serious
to boarding school at the questions about Joshua,
age of 11. "In Nigeria, the one of Britain's most cel-
people love you for you, In this Saturday, June 1 , 2019 file photo, Britain's Anthony Joshua reacts as the referee counts for ebrated sportsmen and
not for what you have." him after he was knocked down during the seventh round of a heavyweight title boxing match someone whose career
At the lowest point of his against Mexican American boxer Andy Ruiz, in New York. trajectory was only head-
professional career and Associated Press ing one way until last sum-
with people starting to mer. Fights with the likes of
question him for the first who stood in as a late re- riving in Riyadh. "I took it like the bright lights of New York Deontay Wilder and Tyson
time, Joshua needed time placement after Jarrell Mill- a man, I'd say. I took it like a five months ago, when he Fury would be further away
to reflect and to have er failed multiple doping champion should. Because was making his U.S. debut then ever.
a dose of reality. He vis- tests, knocked down Josh- I understood my mistakes. and, maybe, took his eye But he's not thinking that
ited Makoko, a slum just ua four times before the And I've changed them, off the ball. way. He's embracing tak-
off mainland Lagos that is fight was stopped in the I've rectified them. While retaining that chis- ing boxing to a new audi-
largely a floating commu- seventh round, the defeat- "If anything wasn't to go my eled physique that could ence, shrugging off the
nity of wooden homes on ed champion somewhat way this time, I just have to not contrast more with Ruiz fact that the fight will take
swampland. dazed and disheveled. say the man is better than Jr.'s, Joshua looked slimmer place in a kingdom where
Joshua is adored there, Joshua has ignored some me. He is a tricky customer and lighter during his pub- there are human-rights
and they mobbed their calls to dispense with his but I think I'm a better fight- lic workouts in Riyadh this concerns, and is desperate
icon. long-time trainer, Rob Mc- er than him, even though I week. to regain his IBF, WBA and
"It was good to see hope," Cracken — the pair go way didn't get the decision last And because he is having WBO belts.
Joshua recalled. "Any- back, to before Joshua won time. I went straight back to prove himself all over "Of course people doubt
one that can bring hope an Olympic gold medal at in. I didn't say, 'Ah, I need again, Joshua said he com- me," Joshua said. "But the
to you, they appreciate it the 2012 London Games — a warm-up fight.' I knew pares this fight with the first main thing is I'm still here.
and they appreciate my but has changed his spar- where I went wrong. I know of the 23 in his pro career. I'm not discouraged. That's
journey so far. That's what ring partners, his routines, how to improve it, and I've "I have erased the old fight all I can say."q
I liked. We're on a journey."
Joshua's journey took an Aliu expects "big change" after meeting with Bettman
unexpected detour with
that loss to Ruiz Jr. in June.
But it may well be the mak- TORONTO (AP) — Former NHL forward Akim Aliu expects message we're trying to bring.
ing of him. "big change" in hockey after a meeting with top league "I think there's some big change coming, and it's long
The Briton heads into the executives Tuesday. overdue. I'm excited to see it come to fruition."
rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Aliu met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Bettman and Daly put out a joint statement after the
Arabia, on Saturday as deputy commissioner Bill Daly in Toronto to discuss his meeting with Aliu.
something of a changed allegation that former Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters "We are pleased to have met with Akim Aliu today and
man. More humble, more used a racial slur several times during the 2009-10 sea- had a productive and candid conversation," the state-
accepting of vicissitudes son while the two were with the Chicago Blackhawks' ment said. "Today's discussion is part of a broader, thor-
of his sport, and eager to top minor league affiliate in Rockford, Illinois. ough review and process that the league is undertak-
learn from his mistakes. The Flames investigated Aliu's claim, and Peters re- ing. We share a mutual objective: ensuring that hockey
Joshua accepts there were signed last Friday. Peters apologized to the Flames and is an open and inclusive sport at all levels."
plenty of them before the general manager Brad Treliving for using "offensive lan- The league said it will have no further comment until
first fight in Madison Square guage" in Rockford. after the NHL's Board of Governors meeting next week
Garden. He still won't say The NHL has said it is continuing to review the matter. in Pebble Beach, California.
exactly what went wrong "It's been a tough week," the Nigeria-born Aliu said. Following Aliu's allegations, others claimed Peters
that night in New York, "We had some great discussion with Gary and Bill, who kicked and punched players behind the bench during
but he acknowledges he couldn't have been kinder and (more) receptive to the his recent time with the Carolina Hurricanes.q
"wasn't prepared" for the