WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder had backed Andy Ruiz to repeat on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. That didn't happen, with Anthony Joshua outboxing Ruiz over twelve rounds to reclaim the WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA world heavyweight titles.
Anthony Joshua did not crack a smile until the verdict was read out, although the roar of pent up frustration that greeted Michael Buffer’s announcement gave the first indication, despite all the denials, of how hurt he had been by the loss the Ruiz six months ago.
Anthony Joshua regained his IBf, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight titles titles by boxing effectively over 12 rounds. 65 of Joshua's 107 landed punches were jabs, averaging 23 thrown per round. Andy Ruiz managed to land an average of just 5 punches per round, throwing just 22 per round.
By Jake Donovan - Anthony Joshua managed to get it right the second time around. Sweet revenge was gained for the most bankable heavyweight in the world, who avenged his lone career loss with a sound 12-round decision win over Andy Ruiz in their DAZN-streamed title fight rematch Saturday evening in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Scores...
Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz Scorecard BoxingScene Live - The biggest fight of the year is now a few away. Ahead of the much-anticipated rematch between Andy Ruiz, Jr. and Anthony Joshua OBE, both fighters tipped the scales in front of a raucous crowd in Saudi Arabia. At 283.7 pounds, Ruiz came in at his heaviest weight in many years and 15 pounds heavier than he was for the first fight in June. (photos by Mark Robinson)
Much will be made of Andy Ruiz’s weight heading into his rematch against Anthony Joshua. Ruiz weighed in at 283 pounds Friday, 15 more than his previous public appearance on a scale, the heaviest he’s been since 2009 in his second pro fight. In Ruiz’s defense, he weighed in fully clothed, shoes and a sombrero to boot, with a meal in his tummy and sufficiently hydrated. It officially marked an end to a half-year victory lap around the world, which at times detailed successful attempts at weight loss with a target goal of 255 pounds.
Defeat, for Anthony Joshua, is not an option. One defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr, in June, was embraced as a chance to reflect. Another, on Saturday night, he admits would be “catastrophic”. A victory over Ruiz Jr in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday night, and he will get back to just about where he was before their first fight at Madison Square Ga. A loss, though, would make the journey back so long and difficult, many feel he would not even attempt it.
Each man will enter the ring assuming an identity new to them. For Andy Ruiz, for the first time he will enter the ring as “the reigning.” Half a year has passed since he shocked the boxing world with an off the deck, four-knockdown drubbing of Anthony Joshua. No matter what he does the rest of his career, Ruiz will always have that moment.
Even with such language specified in the contract for their first fight, Andy Ruiz and his team were surprised when Anthony Joshua insisted on running it back. The fallen British heavyweight was on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight title fight history, suffering four knockdowns en route to a 7th round stoppage for his first career defeat. That memorable night at New York City’s Madison Square Garden saw California’s Ruiz (33-1, 22KOs) become the first-ever Mexican boxer to lay claim to the heavyweight throne, a moment which was immediately followed by England’s Joshua (22-1, 21KOs) exercising a rematch clause.
Andy Ruiz is an underdog against Anthony Joshua. Again. He wants to shock the world and prove his stunner of the century was not a fluke. Again. His trainer Manny Robles believes his fighter has gotten the short end of the stick throughout the Matchroom Boxing promoted show, and he’s hoping it doesn’t spill into the fight Saturday in Saudi Arabia.