Anthony Joshua was shocked by Andy Ruiz Jr in a monumental heavyweight upset at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday morning
Joshua was floored four times and beaten in seven stunning rounds in a result to rival any surprise in the sport’s illustrious history.
The previously unbeaten world heavyweight champion lost his IBF, WBA and WBO titles and suffered a major and unforeseen setback in his plan to dominate a division that includes Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.
He looked in full control when he floored Ruiz Jr with a left hook. But, in trying to finish the fight, Joshua was caught cold by Ruiz Jr and sent to the canvas for the first time since his classic fight against Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley.
Joshua stood up but was on wobbly legs and Ruiz Jr pounced, sending him tumbling down again. Joshua clambered back up and needed to be saved by the bell for the end of the round.
He never truly recovered and Ruiz Jr stung him with a body shot in the sixth with Joshua still not looking like himself.
The Mexican-American challenger let his hands go in the seventh round and an overhand right had Joshua crashing down for a third time. It looked like a lost cause at this point but Joshua stood up again, only to hit the canvas for a fourth time, unable to hold himself up any longer.
The shock harks back to Mike Tyson’s infamous loss to the unfancied Buster Douglas in 1990, or Lennox Lewis’ defeats to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman.
5 Comments
WHAAAt
@Mykel
How the mighty has fallen! To lose one belt is bad enough but to lose all 4 belts to an underdog by all standards should rank up there as one of the biggest shocks of all time – not only in boxing but in the world of sports.
I know that many boxers traditionally carry themselves with a sense of swagger and flamboyancy but I thought recently, Anthony Joshua was too OTT (over the top) in some of his adverts.
This defeat ranks high up their as the manner in which the great Iron Mike Tyson (on top of the world at that point) lost to underdog James Buster Douglas on February 11 1990 in Tokyo Japan.
Out of 23 fights, Joshua had won 22 with 21 of those coming as knockouts having lost just one so, it was no surprise to me that the “fellow Nigerian world champion” was a runaway favourite to win this match.
Andy Ruiz, dubbed unglamorous due to his rounded physique, was not even the original opponent. He took the bout at six weeks’ notice and his body would suggest that he wasn’t in shape for the fight!
I watched a documentary recently where Tyson Fury said: “For me, Anthony Joshua needs to prove himself on the world stage because he is so happy fighting in England….”
Hence, this match at the famous Maddison Square Garden in New York USA was meant to be the beginning of an American dream but it in fact ended in nightmare with less fancied Ruiz flooring favourite Joshua four times en route to a seventh-round stoppage handing the Briton/Nigerian his first defeat as a professional – and what a way to go down!
What next?
It has been a difficult few months for British boxing with Amir Khan losing to Terence Crawford in April under controversial circumstances after his corner pulled him out of the match saying he was in too much pain following a low blow.
Whist I would suggest that Khan should consider retiring because, for such a good boxer that he is, he can’t seem to take punishment for long – his chin is particularly suspect.
As for my brother Joshua, his knockdowns were felt in Lagos, Abuja, Kwara, Sokoto and indeed the length and breath of Nigeria but we believe he can bounce back. With hard work, focus, dedication and a lot less exuberance he should be able to regain what he lost.
It’s a shame though, all what it took years to accumulate, he lost in just one night! (the IBF title 2016, the WBA (Super) title 2017, and the WBO title 2018, the IBO title 2017).
Oh dear!
You still remain a great boxer AJ. Life tells me there is no one unbeatable, but God Almighty, no one most handsome, but God Almighty, no one most beautiful, but God Almighty, no one that’s is the wealthiest but God Almighty.Everyone is bound to meet someone much stronger, more handsome, more beautiful, more intelligent,more wealthier etc at some point. Definitely nothing in this world to boasts n look than on others for. This is where I always respect AJ, very welcoming, humble n unassuming. You will come back a lot better brother man.
Waooo, when he started associating so much with niheria and displaying eating eba n all this heavy food, I knew he leading himself to a major downfall, what a pity, but AJ will definitely bounce back, he has the nija thick vain n blood in him.
What is wrong with Joshua associating himself with Nigeria?