Anthony Joshua admits it would be “catastrophic” if he loses again to Andy Ruiz in the Clash on the Dunes.
Joshua will attempt to reclaim his world heavyweight titles from Ruiz in Diriyah and promoter Eddie Hearn has warned he will have to rebuild his career against B-list fighters if he fails.
Joshua knows his career at the highest level is on the line and insists he will avenge June’s shock seven-round defeat at Madison Square Garden.
“It will definitely be catastrophic if I lose, but I’m not even thinking about losing,” said the former WBA, IBF and WBO champ.
“It will be big business when I win. As bad as it would be if I lost again, it will be just as great when I win.
“They’re just opposite sides of the same coin and I just need to focus on what I need to do to win.
“A lot has been said since June. I’m not bothered, but I do know I’m going to punish him when he we go again on Saturday.”
Joshua, 30, weighed in over three stone lighter than Ruiz and feels this could give him an advantage tonight.
Joshua tipped the scales at 16st 13lbs at the open-air weigh-in outside the fighters’ luxury hotel, which was 10lbs lighter than he was for the first fight.
Ruiz was a whopping 20st 3lbs - a stone more than he was in June - and Joshua feels he won’t be as slick as he was then.
“Imagine being three stone heavier after everyone saying how fast he is,” said Joshua. “I’ll definitely be beating him to the punch.
“He’s a big lad, isn’t he? But it’s not about weight. It’s about hitting and not getting hit. It’s the sweet science.”
Joshua posed for selfies with his fans before walking back into his wing of the hotel and he appeared confident and relaxed.
“The weigh-in is important, but for heavyweights it doesn’t really matter that much,” he said.
“It’s about having the skills to pay the bills and that leads to victory. It’s not so much about the weight as how I feel and I feel good.”
