Andy Ruiz Jr scored one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight championship history when he beat Anthony Joshua a seventh-round TKO on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
With the win, Ruiz Jr. takes Joshua's 3 heavyweight belts, and the unheralded 29-year-old from El Centro is now the heavyweight champion of the world.
Not bad for a boxer who entered Saturday night's fight as 12-1 underdog and was actually a replacement opponent brought in to face Joshua on short notice.
Ruiz Jr. came off the floor in the third round to drop Joshua twice before the end of the frame, then sent the champion to the canvas for a third and fourth time in the seventh round before referee Mike Griffin put a stop to the proceedings at the 1:27 mark.
Ruiz Jr., a 2007 graduate of Imperial High School, out-boxed, out-toughed and beat up Joshua, it's a result that shocked the world. With the win, Ruiz Jr. becomes the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion of the world.
“I just feel so good, man,” said Ruiz “This is what I have been dreaming about. This is what I have been working hard for. I can’t believe I just made my dreams come true. I just want to thank my team and my family. The sky is the limit, baby.”
Ruiz Jr. improves his professional record to 34-1, before turning pro Ruiz Jr. was 105-5 as an amature
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At 6'2, close to 280 pounds and with a paunchy belly, Ruiz Jr. doesn't look like your typical boxer, but ask Joshua looks can be deceiving. After the fight Joshua gave Ruiz Jr. credit, but said he wants to a rematch.
Ruiz Jr. said he'd be game for a rematch, but had other immediate plans. "Right now, I just want to celebrate," Ruiz said. "I just made history for Mexico. This is what I have been dreaming about since I was 6 years old."
