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22

2019 Joshua Defeats Ruiz Jr To Regain

11th, World Heavyweight Titles

December Every time Joshua was

| drawn in close the momen-
tum swung in Ruiz’s favor
EXAMINER in the ninth served as anoth-
and a left-right combination
er example as the Mexican
instantly responded by drag-
IRISH ging the challenger into dan-
ger.
Ruiz showed his frustra-
tion in the bout’s final sec-
onds as he stood in the center
of the ring beckoning Joshua
to engage, and when the final
bell sounded the Briton
raised his arms to vindicate
his emphatic victory.
Asked about the prospect
of going on to face either
Deontay Wilder or Tyson
Fury, Joshua added “I have
been speaking about these
guys a long time.
“This time, when I had the
opportunity to focus solely
on Andy, my head is in the
right place. When Wilder
nthony Joshua much advice. This fight ranks trilogy that he expressed at ger posed by Ruiz. and Fury are really ready,
hailed the second number two though.” ringside. Racking up the rounds on they will make the call.
Abest win of his Apart from sporadic Ruiz admitted: “It was his the scorecards, Joshua never- “Until then, I respect them
career after easing past exchanges in which Joshua night. I don’t think I prepared theless showed an occasional but I won’t continue to call
Andy Ruiz Jr on points to looked in danger of being as good as I should have. I propensity to switch off, them out. I am making my
regain his world heavy- lured into the kind of fight gained too much weight but I allowing Ruiz rare and tanta- own lane and if they want to
weight titles in Saudi Ruiz required to repeat his don’t want to give no excus- lizing glimpses of a repeat be a part of that, they will
Arabia. victory, the 30-year-old large- es. success. call.” C
Joshua stuck to his game- ly sailed home with the mini- “He won, he boxed me
plan to deliver an emphatic mum of fuss. around but if we do the third,
118-110 (twice) 119-109 “I know that my fans like you best believe I will come
points verdict in a manner to see me knock people out in the best shape of my life.
which contrasted the contro- and I can do that but some- “I thought I would come
versy and chaos that has times with certain fighters in stronger and better. But
served to define this promo- you have to box smarter,” you know what, next time I
tion. said Joshua. am going to prepare better
If it was short on the five- “I understand what Andy with my team. This time I
knockdown thrills which brought to the table so I had tried to train myself at times
shocked the boxing world in to decapitate him in a differ- to get prepared.”
their first meeting in New ent way.” As if the bout needed any
York in June, it was emphatic In a bout which had been additional hype, opinion had
vindication for Joshua of tac- threatened with delay by a been split over its outcome
tics required to repel Ruiz’s rare desert rain-storm with many believing Ruiz
crude advances. moments before they took to simply had to land another of
Speaking at ringside, the ring, Ruiz had banked his crude left hands to win.
Joshua told DAZN: “I have almost entirely on landing Joshua rewarded them
the utmost respect for Andy another big left money-shot. which seldom deviated from
Ruiz who beat me fair and And although he enjoyed the script as he skated out of
square in the first exam – I fleeting moments of success trouble against a much heav-
failed the first time but I it became increasingly clear ier opponent whose extra
came back and studied him Ruiz, who weighed in more luggage clearly minimized
and passed this time. than a stone heavier than for his chances of retaining his
“This ranks second. The their previous bout, was titles.
first would be my fight short on ideas to get through Both men were cut around
against Wladimir Klitschko – Joshua’s sharp and consistent their left eyes in the first two
it means so much to me and I jabs. rounds and it took until the
learned so much from that As feared, Ruiz admitted fourth for the bout to burst
fight. afterwards that he had barely into life with an exchange on
“I respect Wladimir so trained for the rematch, sure- the bell which served as a
much and he still gives me so ly undermining his hopes of a timely reminder of the dan-