As it happened: Anthony Joshua v Andy Ruiz Jr for the WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles

Andy Ruiz Jr suffers a cut above his eye in the first round of the bout. Photo / Getty

Anthony Joshua challenged Andy Ruiz Jr for the WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight belts - check out how the fight unfolded below.

Anthony Joshua insists he will not celebrate snatching his heavyweight titles back from Andy Ruiz Jr.

The 30-year-old Brit hero was slaughtered by the Mexican in June, in one of boxing's biggest upsets.

Ruiz has since claimed AJ quit the New York stunner, riling the Olympic 2012 Team GB hero.

But the 1.98m powerhouse, who held his last sparring session on Tuesday to stay razor-sharp, says a rematch win in Saudi Arabia will still be no time to party or showboat.

He said: "Would it be a special moment? No because I know I belong here, so it's not special.

"When I regain those belts I'm going to keep cool, stay focused on the next challenge. It's not a time to celebrate.

"It's a time to keep the challenger mindset, one by one I'm picking them off, I'm moving on to the next target and Ruiz is just the next target on my list.

"I have been boxing for a while and, even when I first started I came to take over, not take part. I came with full force and commitment.

"The focus has always been there but I never had a chance to reflect, it was always tournaments or titles.

"I am not here to put on a show, I am here to win, I have fought or sparred almost everyone on the card, I have been around the block, I know what I am doing."

HOW TO WATCH ON TV

Andy Ruiz will hold his first title defence on Sunday morning, December 8.

The undercard begins on Sky Arena ($34.95) from 5am (NZT).

The main event heavyweight championship blockbuster is expected to begin around 10am.

WHERE IS IT BEING HELD

The Clash on the Dunes blockbuster is being held at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia. The purpose-built stadium has a capacity of 15,000. The stadium has been build on the outskirts of Saudi capital Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly paid a hosting fee of $US40 million to hold the event in the ancient city of Diriyah, reportedly in a bid to show off the region's tourism potential to the rest of the world.

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RECORD PURSE CREATES HISTORY

Dethroned heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will earn the richest payday in British boxing history in his Saudi Arabian re-match with Andy Ruiz Jr.

Joshua was humiliated when he was stopped at Madison Square Garden in June after Ruiz had taken the fight against the former champion at late notice.

Considered one of the biggest outsiders in boxing history, Ruiz knocked Joshua down four times on his way to a famous title-winning victory.

Despite Ruiz's historic win, a report now claims Joshua will earn a staggering $US85 million when he steps into the ring to win back his WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight crowns.

The Daily Mail reports the English star will earn more than six times the $US13 million Ruiz will receive as dictated by the re-match terms negotiated in the original fight contract the pair signed earlier this year.

The staggering money for Joshua is more than four times the reported $US20 million he earned for the first fight with Ruiz in New York this year.

Ruiz is also earning a massive pay rise in the re-match after he reportedly pocketed around $US7 million for replacing Jarrell Miller at late notice.

The ridiculous money on offer reportedly is the result of host-country Saudi Arabia enticing Joshua's promoters to stage the fight in the desert, in an attempt to promote the ancient city of Diriyah and showcase it as a tourism destination.

Joshua's $85 million payday is reportedly the same fortune returning UFC star Conor McGregor earned for his boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather, the fight where the veteran American legend reportedly pocketed an insane $275 million (including his share of the pay-per-view purchases).

TALE OF THE TAPE

Anthony Joshua

Age: 30

Record: 21-1 (21 wins by knockout)

Height: 1.98m

Weight: 111kg

Reach: 82 inches

Nationality: UK

Andy Ruiz

Age: 30

Record: 33-1 (22 wins by knockout)

Height: 1.98m

Weight: 121kg

Reach: 74 inches

Nationality: USA

RECENT FIGHTS

Anthony Joshua:

— June 2019: Defeated by Andy Ruiz via TKO, Madison Square Garden

— September 2018: Defeated Alexander Povetkin via TKO, Wembley Stadium

— March 2018: Defeated Joseph Parker via unanimous decision, Principality Stadium Cardiff

Andy Ruiz:

— June 2019: Defeated Anthony Joshua via TKO, Madison Square Garden

— April 2019: Defeated Alexander Dimitrenko via corner retirement, Carson

— July 2018: Defeated Kevin Johnson via unanimous decision, Fresno

FULL JOSHUA-RUIZ CARD

Dillian Whyte makes his long-awaited return as a full undercard of "heavy hitters" for Anthony Joshua's world title rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia is unveiled.

Whyte has been out since his failed drugs test in July was revealed.

WBA, WBO, IBO heavyweight championship: Andy Ruiz vs Anthony Joshua

WBC international heavyweight championship: Filip Hrgovic vs Eric Molina

Heavyweight: Alexander Povetkin vs Michael Hunter

Heavyweight: Dillian Whyte vs Mariusz Wach

Super featherweight: Scott Quigg vs Jono Carroll

Heavyweight: Mahammadrasul Majidov vs Tom Little

Junior featherweight: Hopey Price vs Swedi Mohamed

Middleweight: Diego Pacheco vs Levan Shonioa

Clash on the Dunes

Joshua vs Ruiz 2

Sunday, December 8 at 5am

Diriyah Arena, Saudi Arabia