By Aragon Garcia: Newly crowned IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (33-1, 22 KOs) says his immediate focus is defending his three titles against former champ Anthony Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) in a rematch later this year, but after that, he wants to face undefeated WBC champion Deontay ‘Bronze Bomber’ Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) in a unification fight.
“That’s what we’re aiming for, but first things first. I got to get Joshua,” said Ruiz to TMZ Sports.
Ruiz might not have it as easy beating Joshua in rematch
The element of surprise is over with for Ruiz, as far as his match-up with Joshua. It’s not likely going to be as easy in the rematch, because Joshua will make sure the fight takes place in England so that he can advantage. Joshua, 29, will have even more support backing him than he did last Saturday. The crowd at New York’s Madison Square Garden was roughly 80% Joshua fans last Saturday night, but it was a relatively small crowd compared to the ones he’s fought in front of in the UK.
If Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn get their way in having the rematch with Ruiz Jr. take place in the UK, the contest could take place in a 70,000 seat stadium.
While some of Ruiz’s boxing fans will make the long journey from Southern California to England to watch him fight Joshua, it won’t likely be a massive amount. For intents and purposes, Ruiz will be out there on his own fighting in fighting in front of a crowd that could be as much 95% Joshua fans. That’s pretty significant, especially when you’re talking about a crowd of possibly 90,000 fans. The crowd will have Joshua fighting at a higher level than he did last Saturday.
What’s more, Joshua’s weight will probably be lower at the 240 pound range rather than the 247 pounds that he weighed in for the Ruiz Jr. fight. Joshua will likely never get back down to 230 or 235 pounds ever again. He’s too dialed into lifting weights and working on resistance exercises that build his muscles. At 240 lbs, Joshua will be a little quicker, and will have slightly better stamina. Instead of Joshua gassing out after three rounds, he might make it to the fifth before he empties his tank entirely.
Here’s what Deontay Wilder said to Ruiz after his win over Joshua:
“You’ve been blessed to come out of the struggle and to become the 1st Mexican Heavyweight Champion Ever. P.S. It’s all up to you in what you do with this huge opportunity.”
Ruiz Jr. vs. Wilder will be a huge fight
A victory over Joshua will setup a huge unification match for the undisputed heavyweight championship between Ruiz and Wilder. That fight could take place in 2020.
“It hasn’t changed the people who I am loyal to, my trainer Rob McCracken, my amateur coach. I still want to work with these guys and they will teach my everything I need to know,” said Joshua on his Youtube channel in talking about him staying loyal to his trainer McCracken. “I would not mind if it was in New York again or in England. New York opened their arms to me and my whole team and it was phenomenal. I have to readjust, analyse, do my best to correct it and get the job done in the rematch.”
