Ruiz shocks Joshua for heavyweight world title

 

 

 

NEW YORK, USA – Anthony Joshua’s bid to make a splash in his US debut ended in misery for the three-belt heavyweight world champion with a stunning loss to underdog Andy Ruiz at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, June 1 (Sunday, June 2, Philippine time).

Ruiz recorded a monster upset, knocking down Britain’s Joshua 4 times to take the World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization titles.

Ruiz came into the fight as a massive 20-1 underdog. But he won it in the middle of the 7th round when the referee stopped it at 1:26 of the round after the fourth knockdown.

Ruiz, sent to the canvas once himself, knocked Joshua down twice in the 3rd round and twice more in the 7th.

“I still can’t believe it. I am still pinching myself to see if this is real,” Ruiz said. 

Joshua had a massive height and reach advantage as he weighed in at a chiselled 255 pounds compared to the portly Ruiz, who beefed up to 268 pounds compared to 250 for his most recent fight. 

Ruiz, who has won 4 fights in a row, looked fearless and poised while Joshua – who had won all 22 of his previous bouts – never seemed to recover from the first knockdown early in the 3rd.

“Riuz won fair and square but I know Anthony Joshua’s work ethic. Great fighters come back and improve,” said Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn.

Late replacement

Ruiz (33-1, 22 KOs) has been underestimated because of his physique, but he knew what was at stake and how fortunate he was to get a second chance at a world title.

He was a late replacement for Jarrell Miller, who withdrew from the bout with Joshua after failing 3 drug tests in April.

“Everything is possible man. Look at me, I just made history,” Ruiz said.

Joshua was knocked down for the first time in the 3rd when Ruiz hit him with a left hook to the temple. Realizing he had the champ in trouble, Ruiz then charged forward and got the second knockdown by connecting on a straight right. 

Joshua got up at the count of 8 but it was late in the round and he was saved by the bell.

“The speed got him,” said Ruiz. 

Ruiz was the first to go to the mat when he got hit by a left hook from Joshua earlier in the 3rd.

Joshua got up after the third knockdown and fourth knockdowns in the 7th but he spit out his mouthguard and the referee waived it off after the fourth trip to the canvas while he leaned on the ropes.

Joshua, who won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, was coming off a nine-month layoff since knocking out Alexander Povetkin in September.

Devastating loss 

Ruiz’s ambush win is being hailed by some as one of the major upsets in heavyweight history, ranking with 42-1 underdog Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson in 1990 and Leon Spinks’ 15-round split decision over Muhammad Ali in 1978.

“We did an upset, just exactly what I have been saying from all the people that doubted me, I just proved them wrong,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz was born in San Diego but considers himself Mexican first and is now the first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent.

“I think Mexico has a champ in every weight and now we have a heavyweight champion. I am so happy,” said Ruiz.

The loss will be devastating for the career of Joshua who was looking past Ruiz for a superfight unification showdown with WBC champion Deontay Wilder.

Together with Briton Tyson Fury they are trying to revive the sport’s prestige division but the inability to get them together in the ring had left a sour taste in the mouth of boxing fans.

One of the first to pile on Joshua was Wilder who tweeted, “He wasn’t a true champion. His whole career was consistent of lies, contradiction and gifts …. now we know who was running from who!!!!”

Fury was less critical, tweeting “We have our back and Forth’s but @anthonyfjoshua changed his stars through life, heavyweight boxing. These things happen, rest up, recover, regroup and come again.” – Rappler.com