Defending champion Andy Ruiz surrendered his set of world titles in just his first defence. Photo: AP
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https://scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3041117/redemption-anthony-joshua-he-takes-apart-andy-ruiz-clash-dunes Boxing
Redemption for Anthony Joshua as he takes apart Andy Ruiz in ‘Clash on the Dunes’ to win on points
- England man wins historic heavyweight contest in Saudi Arabia
- All three judges give it wide to the Olympic champion
Britain’s Anthony Joshua celebrates after beating Andy Ruiz Jnr to reclaim his heavyweight world titles. Photo: AP
Anthony Joshua gave a sublime display of disciplined boxing against Andy Ruiz Jnr as he reclaimed his world heavyweight titles in the historic “Clash on the Dunes” at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
The Londoner was handed the fight on the judges’ scorecards with all three awarding the first title fight to be staged in the Middle East to Joshua by wide margins to crown him a two-time champion.
It was a consummate performance from Joshua against a game but ultimately overmatched Ruiz, who came into the fight at the heaviest weight of his career.
Joshua won a unanimous verdict, with two judges giving the fight to the Briton 119-110 and the other 119-109.
Joshua executed his game plan perfectly, and was straight to his task landing a stinging right hand outside the left eye of the American and opening up a cut in round one. The die was cast from then on.
“I said to myself I was going to correct myself and come again,” Joshua said. “I wanted to put on a boxing masterclass; it’s all about hitting and not getting hit ... it’s all about preparation.”
They said he was all hype. He had to come back from humiliation in Madison Square Garden, and now he’s the ‘guv’nor
Preparation was the key factor in this fight. Joshua looked primed and pumped. He went into the gym for an extended training camp after the fight was booked, while Ruiz has been busily enjoying the spoils of his stunning upset back in June adding a further 15 pounds to his already substantial girth.
“It was his night,” Ruiz said. “I didn’t prepare how I should have. I gained too much weight. If we have a third fight, I’m going to come in in the best shape of my life.”
Andy Ruiz is caught by a right hand from Anthony Joshua. Photo: Reuters
Naturally, Joshua opted to fight much of the fight at range and began to dominate with his long jab.
Joshua was stung as a pivotal fourth round drew to a close, though, with Ruiz landing a slamming right hook around the back of the ear of Joshua and the London man’s legs stiffened momentarily.
But Joshua proved his ability to take a punch, which had been questioned in some quarters after the shock nature of his loss first time around in New York earlier this year, and dominated the fight from that point on.
“I took my ‘L’ and I bounced back,” Joshua said before Ruiz interjected and declared they should go for a trilogy bout. The London man and his promoter Eddie Hearn might need some convincing that a return with the awkward Ruiz would be the best thing for his future.
Anthony Joshua reclaimed his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO world heavyweight titles in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Reuters
Redemption on the dunes for Joshua will reignite talk of a super fight with the other two giants in the division, WBC strap holder Deontay Wilder and the unbeaten Englishman Tyson Fury.
Hearn, set on enjoying his charge’s vindication, wouldn’t be drawn on Joshua’s next step.
“They wrote him off,” Hearn said. “They said he was all hype. He had to come back from humiliation in Madison Square Garden, and now he’s the ‘guv’nor’.”