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2019 Joshua To Fight Andy Ruiz Jr Andy Ruiz Jr Shocks
In Rematch Later This Year
5th, Anthony Joshua will get the chance to win back his IBF, WBA
June and WBO heavyweight titles in a rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr later Joshua, Defeating

this year.
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Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn announced the contracted
EXAMINER take place in November or December, with a venue still to be con- Him In Seven Rounds
rematch clause was triggered on Tuesday and the second fight will
firmed.
The Briton suffered a shock first defeat of his career when he was
IRISH stopped by Ruiz Jr in the seventh round at Madison Square Garden also once hurt him, and
Klitschko,
who
Wladimir
in New York at the weekend.
Hearn tweeted on Tuesday evening: “After meetings with AJ, knocked him down, and Ruiz
Jr capitalized by landing to the
Rob Mc (Joshua’s trainer Rob McCracken) and the management body.
team in NY, we have today triggered the contracted rematch clause A right hook then hurt
with Andy Ruiz Jnr. The fight will take place in Nov/Dec at a venue Joshua again in the seventh
to be confirmed shortly.” before further lefts and rights
Joshua was on the receiving end of one of the biggest shocks in forced him down, and as he
the history of heavyweight boxing on his United States debut. returned to his feet, a further
He was knocked down twice in the third round and twice more assault knocked him over as he
in the seventh, forcing referee Mike Griffin to stop the contest. again beat the count.
Joshua had targeted a rematch straight after the defeat, calling But he remained sufficiently
the loss a “minor setback.” unsteady that Griffin rightly
“I didn’t even ask about a rematch clause because I was so con- rescued him from further pun-
fident I was going to win,” he said. “If it’s there, we’ll go again and ishment.
I’ll get the titles back. I’m going to beat him up.” Joshua-Ruiz Jr had been
Hearn revealed that the UK was the likeliest venue for the intended to showcase the
rematch. defending champion to the
“It’s now down to the rematch and winning that fight,” he said only territory in boxing he had
after the fight. “He must win that fight and he will do anything he ndyRuizJrhascausedoneof able to defend himself, forcing yet to convince, yet if he again
can to regain his title. To get back to the heights he has been, he thebiggestshocksinthehis- referee Mike Griffin’s interven- proved how entertaining he
must win that rematch.” C
Atory ofheavyweightboxing tion while he was on his still on can be he suffered his first
by stopping Anthony Joshua in his feet after one minute and 27 defeat, lost his three world
Joshua Insists He Will Stick By Trainer sevenroundstoinflicthisfirstdefeat seconds. titles and suffered significant
McCracken Despite Shock Defeat and win the IBF, WBA and WBO It was a straight right fol- damage to his reputation.

Anthony Joshua says he will continue to work with trainer Rob titles. lowed by a left hook that sent An immediate rematch may
McCracken despite criticism of his role in the 29-year-old’s shock On the occasion of the Ruiz Jr, who had been criti- be inevitable, but at the venue
loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. defending champion’s US cized for being fleshy and over where heavyweight greats
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was debut, at New York’s revered 20lbs heavier than the champi- Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier,
among those to suggest Joshua should look for a new trainer, but Madison Square Garden, he on at Friday’s weigh-in, to the Lennox Lewis and Evander
he insists he will stick with McCracken. was dethroned as the world’s canvas in the third round. Holyfield enjoyed some of
“I took my first (professional) loss. How to explain that feeling? leading heavyweight by a sig- Joshua had previously strug- their finest nights, he suffered
It has happened to me before but I feel like those times I lost years nificant underdog who took gled with punching down perhaps his worst as Mexico’s
advantage of becoming a late-
against smaller opponents – his
first world heavyweight cham-
back have made me a stronger person,” Joshua said in a video notice opponent to secure a challenger had repeatedly fall- pion was instead crowned.
released on his YouTube channel. life-changing win. en short with the jab because “I can’t believe I just made
“It hasn’t really changed me, my work ethic, my mindset, what Brooklyn’s Jarrell Miller had of the size disadvantage he my dream come true, the sky is
I stand for, the people I’m still loyal to – my trainer Rob been chosen as Joshua’s oppo- faced – but there was no sug- the limit,” said Ruiz Jr, like
McCracken, my amateur coach at Finchley ABC. I’m still going to nent until a six-month suspen- gestion that he was about to Joshua aged 29.
work with these guys, they’ll teach me everything I need to know. sion ruled him out and gave suffer the most damaging “That was the first time I’ve
“They’ve done a great job for me not only inside the boxing ring Ruiz Jr an unexpected opportu- round of his career. been down on the floor and it
but mainly as a human. They’ve really developed me as a person nity with little over a month’s When Ruiz Jr returned to just made me stronger.
which is really important. These guys have been with me for notice. his feet, Joshua immediately “I’m a Mexican warrior, I
years.” When he was knocked pursued the stoppage but Ruiz have that blood in me. I just
Joshua also refused to make any excuses for his defeat and has down in the third round, he Jr fought to survive, landing a made history for Mexico.”
vowed to win back the IBO, IBF, WBO and WBA (super) heavy- appeared on the verge of losing right flush on Joshua’s chin, Joshua was booed by many
weight titles he lost to the American in New York. as routinely as Joshua’s previ- forcing the first heavy knock- of the spectators who cheered
“There was no contaminated food. I know there’s a lot of accu- ous 22 opponents, but he down before another with two him to the ring, and he said:
sations or worries about what was wrong with me,” Joshua added. immediately responded with left hooks after Joshua had beat “Respect to Andy Ruiz Jr.
two knockdowns that left
the count.
Sorry I let my fans down.”
“But I want to tell you this – I’m a soldier and I have to take my
Joshua fortunate to survive. That dramatic round’s end “This will devastate him,”
ups and my downs. And on Saturday I took a loss and I have to take
If Joshua appeared to recov- came with Joshua on the verge said his promoter, Eddie
it like a man. I have to take my loss like a man, no blaming anyone er throughout the fourth and of a shock stoppage, but after Hearn.
or anything. fifth, in the sixth he again spending much of the fourth “He will come back. It’s
“I’m the one who went in there to perform and my performance became hesitant even if there and the fifth – in which he land- now down to the rematch and
didn’t go to plan. I’m the one who has to adjust, analyze and do my was little sign that he was ed a powerful left hand – winning that fight.
best to correct it and get the job done in the re-match. about to be stopped. recovering, he struggled to “He must win that fight and
“Boxing is a part of my life and I’m a champion at heart. Two further knockdowns in build any momentum in the he will do anything he can to
the seventh again left him sixth. regain his title.
Congratulations to Andy Ruiz, he has six months or so to be cham-
fighting for survival, and Joshua became cautious in a “To get back to the heights
pion because the belts go in the air and he has to defend them
though he returned to his feet way he never previously had he has been, he must win that
against myself.” C
after each, he was no longer against Dillian Whyte, who rematch.” C