Saudi Arabia will host the world
heavyweight title rematch between Anthony Joshua and champion Andy Ruiz
Jr in December, a controversial choice which immediately sparked
accusations of the Gulf kingdom attempting to "sportswash" its tarnished
human rights image.
The high-profile December 7 duel, dubbed 'Clash on the Dunes', will see
Britain's Joshua trying to win back the IBF, WBA and WBO titles he
sensationally lost to American fighter Ruiz in New York in June.
The bout will take place in Diriyah, which incorporates the UNESCO World
Heritage site of Al-Turaif, on the outskirts of Riyadh -- a dramatic
contrast to the iconic Madison Square Garden which hosted the first
fight.
Promoters Matchroom Boxing said the fight details will be officially revealed at a news conference in London on Monday.
The rematch had been widely touted but Cardiff's Principality Stadium was tipped as favourite to stage the event.
The Saudis have faced intense diplomatic fallout over the murder of
dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi which took place in the
conservative kingdom's consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
Saudi rulers, also under fire for the war in neighbouring Yemen, have
utilised sport as a tool to try and soften their international image and
to provide a showcase, they claim, for reforms inside the oil-rich
state.
But Friday's announcement was quickly denounced by human rights campaigners.
"If Anthony Joshua fights Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia, it's likely to
be yet another opportunity for the Saudi authorities to try to
'sportswash' their severely tarnished image," said Amnesty UK's head of
campaigns Felix Jakens.
"Despite some long-overdue reforms on women's rights, Saudi Arabia is
currently in the grip of a sweeping human rights crackdown -- with
women's rights activists, lawyers and members of the Shia minority
community all being targeted.
"There's been no justice over the gruesome murder of Jamal Khashoggi,
and the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen is carrying out
indiscriminate attacks on homes, hospitals and market-places with
horrific consequences for Yemeni civilians."
Amnesty said Joshua should "inform himself of the human rights situation
and be prepared to speak out about Saudi Arabia's abysmal human rights
record".
In February this year, the Saudis hosted a first European Tour golf
event which was won by former world number one Dustin Johnson while the
world's most gruelling motor sports race, the Dakar Rally, will be raced
in the country in 2020.
In July, British boxer Amir Khan won the WBC international welterweight
title with a fourth-round stoppage of Australian Billy Dib in Jeddah.
Khan said he did not regret agreeing to the trip despite Amnesty describing the Saudi human rights record as "abysmal".
Khan was reportedly paid £7 million to headline the event.
The former unified world welterweight champion is a Muslim and has
embarked on pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia on a number of occasions,
offering him his own perspective on the country.
"When I was there last, it had all changed. I started seeing women not wearing head scarves. Women were out driving," Khan said.
"They had a huge concert where everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves. I'd never seen that side of Saudi Arabia before.
"Maybe now they are changing to make it that new place where people can
enjoy themselves and it's fair for women. I think they're trying to
change now."
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