Andy Ruiz: Drake Curse Isn't Really A Thing, I'd Meet Him
By Jake Donovan
Andy Ruiz remains just as confident of once again beating Anthony Joshua as he was ahead of their heavyweight title fight last weekend at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
So much, that Mexico’s first-ever heavyweight titlist is willing to flirt with disaster.
Ruiz made history on June 1, rising from a 3rd round knockdown to score four of his own—two in that same round and two more in round seven—in scoring a shocking 7th round knockout of Joshua to win three major heavyweight belts. His win made him the first boxer of Mexican descent to claim any portion of the heavyweight throne.
The aftermath continues to dominate the headlines, ranging from celebrating Ruiz’s win and victory lap all the way to random conspiracy theories as to what went wrong for Joshua, who was upwards of a 30-1 favorite by opening bell.
Among the non-scientific suggestions was that the body-beautiful Brit suffered from the dreaded “Drake curse”, which has become a thing in the sports world in recent years.
The multi-award winning music icon has been considered a bad luck charm to famous sports figures, although Joshua (22-1, 21KOs) played up to the development weeks ahead of his celebrated United States debut, posing for a picture with Drake during training camp, captioned “’Bout to break that curse.”
The moment was captured and discussed during Wednesday’s edition of FS1’s Inside PBC Boxing, as host Kate Abdo asked for the newly crowned champ’s thoughts.
“Yeah I know about the Drake curse,” Ruiz (33-1, 22KOs) hesitantly admitted during the show. “I don’t think it’s really a thing.”
Joshua has already exercised a rematch clause in the contract, although who has final say on where it takes place apparently is up for debate. Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn insist they get to decide the location as per the language of the contract, whereas Ruiz claims there remains more negotiating to be done before part two is delivered.
Wherever and whenever it occurs, the 29-year old from California—whose parents were born and raised in Mexico—is confident of repeating what he accomplished at the start of this month. So much, he’d welcome a visit from a famed artist that other athletes have now been advised to avoid at all costs.
“Yeah I wouldn’t mind (meeting Drake),” Ruiz bluntly stated when asked by Abdo if he’d accept such an offer for the artist to visit him during training camp. “I’m a huge fan of his music and I’m not superstitious like that.”
..berto on my gotdamn TV again
... facing miguel cruz
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