New York: Anthony Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) opened as a 50-1 favorite at many of the nation’s top sportsbooks. The then-undefeated, 3-belt champion came to Madison Square Garden in New York to make his U.S. debut. Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) was to challenge him for his unified titles and three major sanctioning body belts. However, Miller failed three drug tests testing for PEDs in the work-up to the fight. This left no opponent until – after negotiations with Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (31-1, 26 KOs) fell apart – Andy “Destroyer” Ruiz, Jr. (33-1, 22 KOs) stepped in for a fraction of the payday demanded by Ortiz’s camp (and Miller’s camp for that matter).
So, who is Andy Ruiz, Jr.? Up until about two months ago, no one had ever really heard of him. It was only then when he took apart a much bigger, borderline “A”-list fighter in Alexander Dimitrenko, that he was noticed. A late replacement, being less than three weeks out from his victory over Dimitrenko and having just three weeks to train for Joshua, we then starting hearing about the man, as he began popping up here and there. Andres Ponce Ruiz is of Mexican heritage, although born and raised in California. The biggest name he had fought prior to last night was former WBO Heavyweight Champion Joseph Parker, which remains the sole defeat of Ruiz’s career. The biggest name he had beaten was former WBO Heavyweight Champion, Siarhei Liakhovich, back in 2014, when Liakhovich was a very worn-down 38-year old fighter. The one piece of information that we did learn during all of the media attention is that “Destroyer” enjoys Snickers bars…a lot! Suffice it to say that we may see the champ pop up on a Snickers commercial or two in the very near future.
So, what’s next? Well, like anyone who knows what he’s doing, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, who handles all of Anthony Joshua’s affairs, certainly made sure there was a rematch clause in the contract. With three of the major sanctioning bodies involved, a rematch is a for-sure thing if Ruiz decides he would like to keep those belts – not mention make a ton of money in that rematch. This reporter’s best guess is that there will be a rematch, it will be within the next three months, and it will take place across the pond in England – most likely at the 90K-person capacity Wembley Stadium in London.
So, congrats to the new champ, who has now added three belts to WBC Heavyweight Champion, Deontay Wilder’s one, here in the U.S. Not only did Andy Ruiz, Jr. become the first Mexican-American Heavyweight Champion of the World, but for the first time ever, all four major sanctioning body belts run through the red, white, and blue (Riddick Bowe was the last American undisputed heavyweight champion of the world back in 1993). An historic day indeed!
-Mike Feinberg
THE FIGHTING NEWS Reporter
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