Anthony Joshua”has that spite back”, according to some promoter Eddie Hearn, that anticipates three fiery encounters with Andy Ruiz Jr this past week.
Prior to a December 7 rematch live on Sky Sports Box Office, joshua will see Ruiz Jr for the very first time since losing to him in Saudi Arabia now.
The rivals will from London on Friday and at New York on Thursday before ramping up planning to contest the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
“He is looking into the eyes of a man who has conquered himand it’s going to be fascinating how he responds,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
“I really don’t think AJ likes him, he doesn’t like the comments that were made. It is going to be lively.
“There’ll be respect since they had a excellent struggle, but there will be an advantage.
“AJ has got that spite back. I have seen it. I enjoy seeing this – it must be controlled aggression and controlled spite. You’re going into knock out somebody and that’s what AJ wants to perform.”
Joshua had told AJ: The Untold Truth About his frustrations an undercover heavyweight championship battle against Deontay Wilder did not materialise.
He said:”I have taken on the world in my 16th fight, I have always achieved that. Then I am battling Ruiz Jr?”
Hearn insists Joshua has rediscovered his driveway:”He did not have some emotion, and he made that apparent. He was not up for fighting Ruiz Jr..
“It was nothing from Ruiz Jr, he just did not have some emotion. And now he does.”
Joshua also led to a furore by phoning Lennox Lewis, the last undisputed heavyweight champion, a”clown”.
Hearn explained:”It’s been bubbling for some time. It is not that he doesn’t honor Lennox as a fighter. He does but he does not respect him in other ways. People did not pick up that.
“‘How can you say about Lennox?” Of course you can, it doesn’t matter what he is achieved. AJ thinks he’s a clown. AJ can not win, occasionally he gets stick for being quiet and now he’s speaking his thoughts.”
Follow Sky Sports electronic programs for coverage of this Saudi Arabia media conference on Wednesday.