In a surprisingly rainy, purpose built Saudi Arabia arena in Diriyah, Anthony Joshua outboxed Andy Ruiz Jr to a unanimous points decision victory.
In doing so, he made history to become the two time world heavyweight champion, emulating Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis and Floyd Patterson as the only men in history to regain the world heavyweight title in a direct rematch.
Following Andy Ruiz Jr’s shock seventh round TKO of Joshua in Madison Square Garden in June, it seemed the Mexican had enjoyed the spoils of being the heavyweight champ a bit too much.
Ruiz Jr weighed in 15 pounds heavier than in their June fight, Joshua however, came in four stone lighter than their June encounter and looked focussed.
The fight itself went as both fighters weigh in weights indicated.
Joshua showed his boxing abilities by using his jab, moving around the ring, clinching when Ruiz Jr got too close, staying off the ropes and backing up Ruiz Jr with hard, straight right hands when it was necessary.
Ruiz Jr was even more flat footed then in the first fight and his extra weight told. He was unable to get close to Joshua and was banking on Joshua having a tear up with him.
He was hoping his punching power and hand speed will again be the deciding factor in the fight. However, he was just too heavy and was unable to get past Joshua’s jab.
Joshua showed his intelligence and concentration to use Ruiz Jr’s extra weight against him. You could say it was a masterclass in boxing and possibly, he showed versatility from what he had shown in his previous title fights.
Joshua himself stated the win was about going back to basics, he also stated it was just about winning and trusting the process.
Naturally, the unanimous scorecards were read out to jubilant celebrations from Joshua’s camp and his fans in the arena.
However, though it was a comprehensive points victory, you couldn’t help but have an anti-climatic feel to the fight.
Yes, a win is a win and I agree with Joshua when he says it was just about the win and regaining his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles.
That said, following Ruiz Jr’s dramatic TKO victory over Joshua to rip the titles away from him, you was expecting Joshua to go and rip it back in similar fashion. But I guess this is exactly what Ruiz Jr thought.
Although Joshua showed his boxing ability and intelligence to not play into Ruiz Jr’s hands, the manor of this victory for me will leave the door way open for a third rubber fight.
I feel the outcome of both fights justifies a third fight. Although many are saying they absolutely have no interest in seeing a third fight.
Have talked about how embarrassing to himself and the sport of boxing it is for Ruiz Jr to come in so heavy and throw away such a lifetime opportunity, it still doesn’t take away how he shocked the world in June.
You have to remember, his performance made Joshua, who was the main player in the heavyweight division change his whole focus and style of boxing. Joshua slimmed down considerably and adopted a pugilist hit and not be hit game plan.
You have to give Ruiz Jr credit for this. He shocked the world in June on four weeks notice.
He came into that fight as the underdog, but in relative shape as he fought just two months prior to the June fight with Joshua, so stayed in camp and in fight mode.
Fair enough, Joshua had his issues with changing opponents at late notice and obviously took Ruiz Jr lightly.
So if you imagine, if Joshua as the unified heavyweight champion of the world, selling out arena’s and having several title defences, can take his eye off the ball and lose focus, it’s not really surprising Ruiz Jr did.
I am not giving him or making excuses for Ruiz Jr, as he is a professional and fairly experienced enough to be disciplined and focused for the biggest fight of his life. He admitted he enjoyed himself a bit too much, but it has often been proven that the fame and fortune can get to anyone.
Ruiz Jr definitely wasn’t the first and certainly wont be the last boxer, or even sportsman to get thrust into the limelight unexpectedly and then be seduced by the trappings of fame and fortune negatively.
If Joshua had come in and blown him away in a few rounds or won the fight by devastating knockout, then I would agree that a third fight would not be necessary.
However, Joshua changed his whole boxing style to win the belts back, so you have to give props to Ruiz Jr.
Although it wasn’t the most exciting of encounters but neither was Fury’s win over Klitschko when he became the world heavyweight champion, so I suppose it is what it is.
With that said, the talk is that Joshua will need to fulfil his mandatory defence, Joshua himself stated it will be a quick turnaround and he is expected to fight again in March, against either Kubrat Pulev or the intriguing prospect of fighting Oleksandr Usyk which is a fight I would love to see.
I will imagine whoever wins that will then fight the winner of the Fury and Wilder rematch to finally get a unified heavyweight champion.
As for Ruiz Jr, I feel he still has something to offer in this heavyweight division and I believe he has learnt his lesson.
Now he has a taste of the possibilities and his own capabilities, he will be more focused and while he’ll be chasing a third fight with Joshua, there are still some intriguing fights out there for him.
I would love to see him squaring off with Dillion Whyte. He could possibly have a rematch with Joseph Parker or fight whoever from Pulev or Usyk that doesn’t get the Joshua fight in March.
However, this moment belongs to the new, two time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
He must have been at his absolute lowest after his defeat in June, but he locked himself away for six months, trained and worked his butt off.
Slimmed down, came back with a new focus, boxed and moved brilliantly and showed tremendous concentration to make history to become the two time heavyweight champion of the world. Congratulations.
