Down Goes Joshua, Down Goes Joshua-Andy Ruiz Silence the U.K. Hype-Train
BY Scottie “The Context” White
Madison Square Garden was served a cup of boxing tea last night, as challenger Andy Ruiz etched his name as the first Mexican heavyweight/unified champion to the annals of boxing. Ruiz would derail the British hype sensation Anthony Joshua with four stunning knock downs forcing an early closure to the night.
Joshua who possessed the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO heavyweight badges has looked the part in hosting a 22-1 (21KOs) to his boxing ledger but his imposing 245-pound physical structure has been met with underling questions from past performances. His eventful night in the grand arena of Wembly Stadium, he struggle with a 41-yr old retired Wladimir klitschko who was inactive over a year, prior to splitting the ropes to contend for the vacant WBA title. The contest would be a back and forth thriller, where both Klitschko and Joshua was met with a canvas appointments to their respective knock downs. Joshua would later flurry to stop Klitschko in the eleventh round rocketing his name as a British boxing superstar across the pond. With fame in the hurt business, come demands. Boxing purist, the critics, were cogitating is Joshua truly the next best heavyweight champion to reign for calendar years to come, knowing there were collective hungry opposition awaiting the boxing queue for their shot at championship matrimony. Joshua would perform less than expected to his applauding fans, as he defended his unblemished record and unified titles against upcoming adversaries named Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker, and Alexander Povetkin.
There were signs that registered concerns as he climb his competitive rungs in boxing, a sense of demise from Joshua next opponent Jarrell Miller who would evaporate his chances from failed drug tests, forcing a scurry of the Joshua camp to locate a fitting last minute shift in a deserving contender to savage the MSG headliner.
Ruiz number would buoy as a last minute replacement, which would now rolodex his calling card for an epic upset, in becoming the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world. An amazing feat all in one as Ruiz would rebel the moment as if it was his time to quiet the masses, all who wagered him a 25-1 underdog to dethrone the heavyweight champion.
Seizing the moment in rising from adversity, Ruiz postured to his feet from an early knockdown, would fire up the barometer, the heart of a Mexican fighter who are known for their tenacious grit, representing the green/white/red, draping the colors to a warriors code, representing their country in the deepest of their pugilistic honor. Ruiz reservoir of courage boiled over as he set up a piercing set of punch combinations flooring the champion Joshua four times. Joshua unsteady in his balance, arms flailing to locate Ruiz for a desperate clinch, would attempt to stand a final time marked 1:27 of the seventh frame, receiving an embrace from referee Michael Griffin halting the bout, to a groggily, disorientated Joshua.
Ruiz boxing ledger greened up the left side improving to 33-1 (22KOs), his only marker in defeat was from WBO champion Joseph Parker. Cameras rolled as Ruiz and team triumphed the center sphere in their victorious glory, a bout for the ages, as he accomplished a pair of historic highlights in paging his bookmark of accolades to the boxing annals. God hands tattooed across his chest plate, tonight was his alone. He indeed lottery the numbers to the grand prize, nothing was given, but all was taken, as his hands held high, exalting his victory to a frenetic crowd of shocked onlookers.
“Man, I just wanna thank God for giving me this victory,” said Ruiz, “Without him, this wouldn’t have been possible. And I just feel so good, man. This is what I’ve been dreaming about. This is what I’ve been working hard for and I can’t believe I just made my dreams come true.”
Boxing perils have precipitated this type of history time and time again. Notable Buster Douglas | Mike Tyson, and Lennox Lewis | Hasim Rahman. Joshua promoter Eddie Hearns close by with a prorated frown that zip tied his usual boisterous outlet, has this to say –“rematch will take place in the United Kingdom. “
Joshua interrupted Ruiz post fight jubilee with these comments – “It just wasn’t my night,” Joshua said. “It was Andy Ruiz’s night. But look, you know what? It’s good for the TV, it’s good for DAZN and the people watching. And now I’ve gotta go and do it again.”
The ebb and flow to the obvious onset for Joshua, was his robotic one-two combinations. Ruiz would immediately redirect his fierce combination sets to a withering shell of Joshua high defensive guard, but it wasn’t enough in preventing him from sustaining punishment.
Thousands in attendance were probably welcoming another thrilling comeback from Joshua, as he did in his bout with Wladimir but Ruiz the much younger striker dialed in his Mexican area code with a single message on the line – VICTORY IS MINE
Joshua did land a solid right hand, which to some haloed his best power punch to the boxing cache but Ruiz repelled the assault as he returned a blistering barrage of belligerence to Joshua cranial basket, dropping him easily. His incredible deficiency to catch and shoot any counters, create angles to shift momentum, exit to his mobility in resetting an offensive return or properly sustaining a defensive stance to weather Ruiz onslaught was futile. It was absolutely no defensive stance to elude punishment that lead to Joshua disastrous downfall.
Enclosing, I have paper-clipped these type of moments early on and held firm in my integrity to report what my opinionated journalistic views register, especially in my assessment of Joshua. No way is it personal but Ruiz has provide an indirect service to stopping Joshua prior to his inevitable collision with the hard-hitting WBC Champion Deontay Wilder. A matter of fact, Ruiz can be considered the savior to extending Joshua career to possibly return to fight another day. But the message, i will banter to all the transitional bandwagon riders, those who are now dipping deep in the alleyways from the defeat of this affliction to this glorified heavyweight farce. Understand, Wilder dedication to stay the course, challenge the best in his division, competing to solidify his position in ranks with the “Greats” of his past time, is forthcoming. Wilder is proving he’s a modern day King to his throne and everyone who back peddles to the shadows in support, will soon witness.
Congratulations to Andy Ruiz, superb night to your boxing glory as your country will celebrate from dawn to dusk. Salud.
Senior Writer Scottie White|World Combat Sports. Be sure to Turn Up and Tune In.