BRITAIN’S Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) recaptured his position as the unified heavyweight champion with a unanimous decision victory over Andy Ruiz Jr (33-2, 22 KOs) in a rematch that captured the world’s attention. In front of thousands of fans at the Diriyah Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Joshua exacted his revenge against Ruiz, who six months ago dethroned him in epic fashion at Madison Square Garden in New York. Joshua will return to the U.K. as the unified IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion and now two-time world heavyweight champion.
Joshua on where this win ranks in his career: “I just want to say I have the utmost respect for Andy Ruiz who beat me fair and square in the first exam. I failed the first time, but I came back and studied hard and passed this time. But this ranks second. The first would be my fight against Wladimir Klitschko. It means so much to me and I learned so much from that fight. I respect Wladimir so much and he gives me so much advice still. This fight ranks number two though.”
Ruiz on pressuring AJ: “I think I was chasing him too much instead of cutting off the ring. I just felt like I couldn’t throw my combinations. But who wants to see this third fight?”
