19 December, 2025, 6:56 am Central - 24°C Rain

Andy Ruiz Jr first Mexican world heavyweight boxing champion

Andy Ruiz Jr first Mexican world heavyweight boxing champion

By Semi Turaga
03/06/2019
Andy “Destroyer” Ruiz Junior

The King has been dethroned.

Andy “Destroyer” Ruiz Junior is the new heavyweight boxing champion of the world after beating Britain’s Anthony Joshua through a technical knockout in Round 7 of their bout in Madison Square Garden in New York.

Ruiz is now the unified heavyweight champion and holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts.

This is one of the biggest upsets in world sport as Ruiz was a late replacement after the initial challenger Jarrell Miller failed drug tests.

The win has been hailed as the biggest boxing upset since Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson in 1990.

Ruiz is the first Mexican to be the heavyweight champion of the world and spoiled the long‑awaited US debut of Joshua by scoring four knockdowns in the fight.

Joshua never quite recovered from a pair of shocking knockdowns in Round 3 that took place shortly after he dropped Ruiz for the first time in his career.

Ruiz never backed down from there despite letting Joshua off the hook in Round 4 when it was clear both fighters were heavily fatigued.

Two knockdowns later in Round 7 and referee Michael Griffin called off the fight after asking Joshua if he was okay to continue.

Speaking after the fight, Ruiz said he wanted to hunt down Joshua  in the ring and show the Mexican style in him.

Ruiz wants a rematch with Joshua.

There was a rematch clause in the fight contract.

Anthony Joshua told Sky Sports  Andy Ruiz is a good fighter and he has a lot of respect for him but AJ will make a return.

This was Joshua’s first defeat in 23 fights.

Ruiz only had six weeks to prepare for the fight of his life and now he will have a lifetime to celebrate one of boxing's biggest stunners in heavyweight history.

People were expecting Joshua to win and set up more ambitious, lucrative bouts against the likes of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and other potential opponents.

Wilder who holds WBC belt decided to give Luis Ortiz a rematch.

[Stuff.co.nz]

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