By Aragon Garcia: Andy Ruiz Jr. quieted many of his critics this month in knocking out the highly popular IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in the seventh round to become the first Mexican heavyweight world champion of all time.
The win for Ruiz (33-1, 22 KOs) put him in the position where he’ll make even more money in the rematch with Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) later this year. Despite his embarrassing defeat, Joshua remains confident, and he’s already triggered the rematch clause to face Ruiz in a rematch.
Andy Ruiz Jr. needs to beat Joshua again
Ruiz, 29, will need to beat Joshua all over again in order to prove to him, his promoter Eddie Hearn, and his many boxing fans worldwide that his victory wasn’t a case of him being overlooked.
Hearn thinks it was a lucky punch by Ruiz in the third round that led to him puling off the upset of AJ. That’s the reason why Hearn was ready and willing to schedule the rematch. He thinks that Joshua is still the better fighter of the two. Ruiz is going to have a lot to say about that in the rematch with Joshua in November or December.
“Do not doubt this chubby anymore,” Ruiz Jr. said to his boxing fans via ESPN Deportes. “I am the first Mexican heavyweight world champion.”
Ruiz visited the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
This win for Ruiz turned him into a mini-star overnight in the United States. If Ruiz can beat Joshua in the rematch, it would be a dream come true for him. He would then move on to face WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
Ruiz proved everyone wrong
“I wanted to silence the mouth of all those who said that chubby will not do anything…I put my dreams first before the doubts and thank God we achieved all my dreams,” said Ruiz.
Ruiz Jr. still wants to fight the rematch with Joshua in the United States or Mexico, but that’s not likely to happen. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has made it clear that he wants to stage the second fight in the UK. Hearn feels that it’s only fair that Joshua have home advantage after he fought Ruiz in New York. However, Ruiz isn’t from New York. He’s from California.
The crowd at Madison Square Garden was predominantly Joshua’s British boxing fans earlier this month, and it was Ruiz at a disadvantage. That wasn’t a home fight for Ruiz. Hearn still wants the rematch to take place in the UK so that Joshua will have an even bigger advantage. At this point, Joshua probably needs it.
Ruiz Jr. is as popular as Canelo now
The victory for Ruiz has turned him into a star on the same level as Saul Canelo Alvarez. Ruiz could surpass Canelo’s star power if he’s able to defeat Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.