Boxing: Anthony Joshua wants boxing world to bow at his feet when he beats Andy Ruiz

Anthony Joshua is the former WBA, WBO and IBF champion Photo credit: Getty

Anthony Joshua wants the world to bow at his feet, if he reclaims his heavyweight boxing title next month.

The 2012 Olympic gold medallist is set for a rematch with Andy Ruiz Jnr in Saudi Arabia for the WBO, IBF and WBA titles on December 8.

Mexican-American Ruiz shocked the boxing world in June, when he inflicted Joshua's first loss, knocking him out at New York's Madison Square Garden

But the Britsh power-puncher, who scored the first knockdown of the fight in the third round, promises to end the short title reign of the unfancied champion - and when he does, he wants his peers to show him the respect he deserves. 

"I'm going to whoop him and show him how great I am," Joshua told Sky Sports UK.

"Everyone is saying how great Andy Ruiz is, so when I beat him, I want everybody to bow to my feet and tell me how great I am. 

"I was supposed to beat this guy last time - a foregone conclusion they said. Now he's been built up like King Kong - the quickest hands in the division and the best boxer in the division. "When I beat him, that makes me the best."

Joshua admits he got caught up in his own hype in June - his first venture to the United States market. The 30-year-old spent most of the lead-up to the Ruiz fight in front of a camera, promoting himself as sports newest superstar. 

But he has gone back to his roots to fix the mistakes he made in New York.

"There is no legacy that you join - you create your own legacy. 

"I understood, when I came into the sport, that you have to create a show, but the second I lost that fight, I knew I had to come back to my fundamentals, because there was a little crack in the foundation.

"So rather than flaunt and promote the show, I've been all about getting down and fixing those cracks in the building - that's my focus. 

"History shows you how you deal with those testing moments of your life and I'm blessed to have this second opportunity. 

"I'm not a broken man. I'm still here talking to you - right here, right now - so the loss hasn't affected me in that sense."

Joshua refuses to look past Ruiz again, but has ruled out a potential unification fight with WBC champion Deontay Wilder.

The undefeated American scored the 40th knockout of his career on Sunday, when he stopped Luis Ortiz in the seventh round of their WBC title fight in Las Vegas. 

The two best knockout artists in the heavyweight division have come close to a deal several times in the last two years, but issues - including money, location and rematch clauses - have scrapped these plans.

Genuine animosity exists between both camps and Joshua is done talking about a unification fight if he reclaims his titles, refusing to entertain a 2020 matchup with the 'Bronze Bomber'.

But Wilder isn't concerned, believing Joshua has little chance against his stablemate.

"I believe Andy will go in there and do it again. Andy Ruiz will win that fight easily and then we will have the opportunity to unify the division next year.

"There isn't anything different that Joshua can bring to the table than what we saw in New York - he's the same every time.

"Joshua has already stated he has no interest in fighting me and that's not what the fans want to hear. I want one face, one name and one champion."

Wilder will defend his WBC title against Tyson Fury in February. 

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