Eddie Hearn watches a replay of Round 3 of the first Joshua-Ruiz fight and reveals what he was thinking as it was happening.
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Imagine the dark thoughts running through the mind of promoter Eddie Hearn as he witnessed the epic Round 3 of the first fight between his client Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. last June in New York City.
In that single three-minute period, Ruiz, challenging for Joshua’s heavyweight titles, went down but got up and — to everyone’s shock — put Joshua on the canvas twice in what was the beginning of the end for the then-unbeaten Englishman.
Ruiz would go on to stop Joshua in Round 7 to claim two major belts. Joshua outboxed Ruiz to win the rematch and regain his titles in December in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
In this episode of “Saturday Fight Live,” courtesy of DAZN, Hearn watches a replay of Round 3 of the first Joshua-Ruiz fight and reveals what he was thinking as it was happening and his thoughts afterward.
Canelo Alvarez told DAZN during Ruiz-Joshua II that he would be willing fight in Saudi Arabia, England or Japan in the near future.
Boxing’s biggest cash cow may be taking his show on the road.
Two-division titleholder Canelo Alvarez was in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia to support countryman Andy Ruiz Jr. in his highly anticipated heavyweight rematch against Anthony Joshua, who wound up winning a wide decision to regain his heavyweight titles.
Alvarez, who is coming off a 11th round knockout of Sergey Kovalev to win a light heavyweight title, gave an interview during the DAZN broadcast discussing his plans. He, for one, is not opposed to staging his next fight in the Arabian desert.
“Of course, why not?” Alvarez said. “It’s an excellent opportunity. Of course, I can see myself fighting anywhere in the world.”
Alvarez has fought exclusively in North America, with the majority of his fights taking place in Las Vegas. He has also fought in San Antonio and New York City.
Alvarez continued: “I can see myself fighting here (Saudi Arabia), fighting in Japan, in England. Believe me, this is something. What a moment it would be for my career to fight anywhere in the world for the right opportunity.”
In Japan, Alvarez has a potentially lucrative matchup against domestic middleweight star Ryota Murata. Previously, there were talks about Alvarez’s arch-nemesis Gennadiy Golovkin facing Murata at the Tokyo Dome but nothing ever materialized. An Alvarez-Murata fight would be even bigger.
In England, there are options with super middleweights Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, although the former is probably a more marketable fight. Smith’s brain trust have been vocal about facing Alvarez.
Anthony Joshua said Andy Ruiz Jr. should now do what it takes to answer his critics, rather than make excuses.
Andy Ruiz Jr. said after he was embarrassed by Anthony Joshua in their rematch Saturday that he didn’t train properly for the fight.
That might or might not be true – although it apparently was – but excuses don’t go over well in boxing. Joshua, who regained his titles by a wide decision in Saudi Arabia, made light of Ruiz’s comments but they obviously didn’t sit well with him.
“I would have loved to have trained the way Andy trained,” joked Joshua, speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. “I would’ve loved that, but that’s not the way of a champion. Andy can say all these things, but he knew he had a fight, and he knew the best way to prepare.
“Unfortunately it didn’t go his way and I’m sure he can make those changes, and learning life’s lessons come in different forms. And Andy’s was in the form of a loss as well (as mine). He knows his mistakes, whatever they were or maybe they’re excuses. He just needs to go out there and get it right and come back again.”
Ruiz overwhelmed in their first fight, in June, putting Joshua down four times and stopping him in seven rounds in a stunning upset to take the titles.
Anthony Joshua relished his ability to prove his doubters wrong on Saturday in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
Afterward, evidently, he was more interested in living the highlife of someone who had just gained great fame and fortune instead maintaining the life of a professional boxer.
Ruiz weighed in Friday at 283.7 pounds, roughly 15 more than in their first fight.
“We started training too late,” he said. “I don’t want to say that the three months of partying and celebrating affected me but to tell you the truth, it kind of did.”
Meanwhile, Joshua, obviously determined to save his career, worked hard in training camp. He came in about 10 pounds lighter than in the first fight, which presumably made him quicker and more agile.
He thoroughly outboxed Ruiz to regain his titles and prestige, proving wrong those people who thought he’d never recover from the June beating. Now, he says, it’s Ruiz’s job to prove his critics wrong.
“No excuses for the last time,” Joshua said, “and I don’t want anybody to write Andy off. He’s a great former champion, and he done well, and he beat me fair and square. Sometimes you just have to recheck yourself, and that comes in many different forms, and mine was in a loss, and this time I was really concentrated on my job.
“I just didn’t listen to these so-called boxing experts who claimed that I wouldn’t be able to reclaim my belts. It’s dangerous going straight into a rematch – not many heavyweights have been able to reclaim their belts – but I believed in my team. I kept my same team that everyone told me to get rid of, and I feel like loyalty proves strength and we went out there and proved how good we really are now.”
Anthony Joshua entered the ring with an excellent game plan and executed it perfectly to dominate Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday.
GOOD
Well done.
Anthony Joshua answered a lot of questions with a brilliant game plan and superb execution Saturday night in Saudi Arabia, thus resurrecting a career that briefly went off the rails and leaving Andy Ruiz Jr. to answer his own questions.
The last time we saw Joshua he was a beaten man, having been stopped and (borrowing a word used by promoter Eddie Hearn) humiliated by Ruiz in June. On Saturday, he owned Ruiz from beginning to end.
Joshua and trainer Rob McCracken should be commended for their game plan – jab, move, stay out of trouble, take back what’s yours. The fact Joshua was 10 pounds lighter this time played into the strategy; he moved like a middleweight. He obviously put in the work. And Joshua showed no signs of a damaged psyche from the first fight. He was focused, confident, determined.
A particularly heavy Ruiz really never had a chance. He lost a near-shutout decision.
Some critics will suggest that Joshua was too careful, although he did throw a number of hard right hands and a few hooks in attempt to hurt Ruiz. They might point to Lennox Lewis, a fellow Briton who did to his two conquerors what they did to him – knocked their asses out.
That’s not a fair assessment. Joshua learned in a way more damaging than Lewis experienced – Lewis was stopped, not beat up – that Ruiz is a dangerous heavyweight. He made adjustments to minimize that danger and win rounds, which is how the fight played out.
It might not have been as exciting as Lewis knocking out Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman but it was just as thorough. Brilliant.
BAD
Anthony Joshua right) kept a safe distance from Andy Ruiz Jr. much of the fight. Too safe? Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
Again, it’s difficult to find fault in Joshua’s performance. The man dominated an opponent who had dominated him only six months earlier.
One thing was missing, though: It wasn’t much fun to watch. Joshua supporters will minimize the entertainment factor but others will ask with some legitimacy, “Where was the action?” Entertaining fights are the result of risks, genuine attempts to score a knockout, ebbs and flows, all of which were missing on Saturday.
If that’s not important to you, that’s fine. If it is, that’s understandable.
Joshua turned in a fine performance, not an exciting one. He demonstrated that he could come back from extreme adversity, which says a lot about him. He just didn’t make as strong a statement as Lewis, who said with his performances in his rematches with McCall and Rahman that, “I’m going to do to you what you did to me” and then did it.
That’s special stuff. Joshua was impressive, too, only in a less compelling way.
I doubt Joshua has turned into a safety-first boxer long term even though he said in the ring immediately after the fight that he wanted to “show that the sweet science of this lovely sport is about hitting and not getting hit.”
I believe he and McCracken thought – rightly – that he could regain his titles and the clout that goes with them with a deliberate strategy against Ruiz. That’s done. If he had any demons lingering from the first fight, they’re gone.
Going forward, Joshua, one of the biggest punchers in history, probably will be a hybrid. He’ll be more cautious than he was in the past – he never wants to endure the trauma of a brutal loss again – but he’ll fight aggressively enough to score many more knockouts. In other words, more thrills lie ahead.
WORSE
Joshua could only console a disappointed Ruiz after dominating him. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
Well, it looks as if Ruiz might be another Buster Douglas.
Douglas is known both as the fighter who upset then-unbeaten Mike Tyson and the one who mailed it in for his first defense, against Evander Holyfield. Douglas came in 14½ pounds heavier for Holyfield than he weighed for Tyson. He was prepared neither physically nor mentally. Thus, he lost his title in three rounds.
Ruiz weighed roughly 15 pounds more than he did in the first fight with Joshua, which suggests he didn’t put in the necessary work beforehand. He was focused on the hoopla that followed his stunning upset of Joshua, not taking the steps necessary to build on his victory. He reportedly starting training camp much later than trainer Manny Robles wanted him to.
I believe the version of Joshua we saw on Saturday probably would’ve beaten even a fit Ruiz. However, the Mexican-American made his task much more difficult by letting his weight get away from him.
As a result, he cheated himself out of an opportunity to take a step toward becoming an enduring champion. And he cheated the fans, who had reason to expect a similar version of the fighter who shocked Joshua at Madison Square Garden.
Of course, Ruiz isn’t finished. He’s only 30. He said after the fight that if he gets a chance to fight Joshua again, “I’ll be in the best shape of my life.” It might be too late for that; there are no guarantees that there will ever be a third meeting.
Ruiz will get more big fights, though. We’ll see whether he learned a lesson from what can only be described as a disaster on Saturday night.
Anthony Joshua, one of the biggest punchers ever, used his brain and athleticism to turn the tables on Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday.
Sometimes it’s better to be smart than sensational.
Anthony Joshua, one of the biggest-punching heavyweights ever, turned into safety-first, stick-and-move boxer against the fighter who knocked him out six months ago. The result wasn’t exciting to watch but it couldn’t have been more effective.
A trimmed down, nimble Joshua essentially jabbed his way to a near-shutout decision over a 283.7-pound Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday night in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, to regain the three heavyweight titles he lost to Ruiz in June. The scores were 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109. Boxing Junkie scored it 119-109.
“Look, this is about boxing,” Joshua said in the ring afterward. “I’m used to knocking guys out. You know what I’m saying? I realized I hurt the man (in the first fight) and got caught coming in. I gave the man credit. There were no excuses, right?
“… I wanted to put on a great boxing masterclass and show that the sweet science of this lovely sport is hitting and not getting hit.”
Anthony Joshua (right) built his impressive victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. with a superb left jab Saturday in Saudi Arabia. AP Photo / Hassan Ammar
Joshua (23-1, 21 knockouts) was beaten up and embarrassed in his first fight with Ruiz, who put the Adonis-like Englishman down four times and stopped him the seventh round at Madison Square Garden in New York.
That raised many questions about him. Did he have a weak chin? It held up Saturday. Did he suffer psychological damage the first time around? If so, it wasn’t evident. What could he do to turn the tables? We found out on Saturday.
And Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) did his part to help Joshua, coming in extra-flabby, which he said afterward hindered his efforts to chase down a quick-footed foe.
Joshua essentially won the fight by jabbing and moving, which made it next extremely difficult for a frustrated Ruiz to get close enough to do damage. And when Ruiz did manage to get inside, Joshua generally clinched until referee Luis Pabon separated them.
Joshua landed some power shots, although none hurt Ruiz. The same goes for Ruiz, who connected on a few big punches — particularly later in the fight — but none that wobbled Joshua as they did in the first fight.
To be sure, this fight wasn’t about power punching. It was about a fit, hungry former champion with an excellent game plan who made an out-of-shape opponent look foolish with his skill and athleticism.
Joshua landed some power shots but he won the fight with his brain, not his brawn. AP Photo / Hassan Ammar
So focused was Joshua that on the rare occasions he did engage Ruiz, thereby placing himself in danger, he calmly but quickly used his feet to back out of trouble. He was in full control.
That was the pattern of the fight from beginning to end. It never really changed.
“It’s all about preparation,” Joshua said. “… Careers are all about experience. There’s no losing or winning, just creating great memories in this game that we all love. I took my ‘L’ and bounced back. Anyone can do it.
“Life is a roller coaster. What did you want me to do? Give up? I heard a man say I should retire. C’mon man, I love this sport.”
Joshua, standing in a crowd in the ring, then looked Ruiz’s way. “Andy,” he said, “are you ready to retire?” Ruiz responded, “Uh, no.” The loser then pulled Joshua’s arm and the mic to his face. “Who wants to see a third fight?,” the now-former champion bellowed.
Some might argue that Ruiz didn’t earn a rubber match. He came in 15-plus pounds heavier than he weighed in their first fight, which suggested to everyone that he didn’t train properly for the rematch.
He admitted as much afterward.
“I think I didn’t prepare how I should have,” he said. “I gained too much weight. But I don’t want to give no excuses. He won, he boxed me around. You know what? If we do a third fight, you best believe I’ll get in the f—ing best shape, be in the best shape of my life.
“(The extra weight) kind of affected me. I thought I’d feel stronger, I thought I’d feel better. The next fight I’ll be more prepared.”
A frustrated Andy Ruiz Jr., said his extra weight slowed him down in the fight. Nick Potts / PA via AP
What’s the next fight for Joshua, who as champion again can call his shots?
Yes, one option would be Ruiz. The winner of the projected fight between Deontay Wilder, who holds the fourth heavyweight belt, and Tyson Fury would be another, much more lucrative possibility.
Joshua and Co. weren’t tipping their hand at all after the fight Saturday. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, was asked about the future.
“The future plans are to celebrate,” he said. “Celebrate, and celebrate hard. They wrote him off. He had to come back from humiliation at Madison Square Garden. Tonight he’s the governor, the governor of the division, a two-time heavyweight champion of the world.
“… We’re coming home tomorrow night. Heathrow, we’re landing. It’s going to be a hell of a flight home.”
Lennox Lewis said Anthony Joshua can beat Andy Ruiz Jr. in their rematch Saturday if he’s prepared.
Anthony Joshua didn’t just lose to Andy Ruiz Jr. this past June in New York. He was beaten down, as much emotionally as physically.
That’s one reason his attempt to the turn the tables in their rematch Saturday in Saudi Arabia is a significant challenge. Another is that Joshua took an immediate rematch instead of rebuilding his confidence against a lesser foe, which some believe was ill-advised.
Others have succeeded in reversing such a debacle. Joe Louis comes to mind. A young “Brown Bomber” was beaten up by veteran Max Schmeling in 1936. Two years later Louis KO’d the German inside one round.
A more modern example is Wladimir Klitschko. The giant Ukrainian suffered three deflating knockouts early in his career but bounced back to become one of the most-enduring heavyweight champions of all time.
Lennox Lewis reversed his misfortune in an immediate rematch, as Joshua is trying to do. Lewis was knocked out by Hasim Rahman in five rounds but, more focused, returned the favor in four rounds seven months later. He also avenged a knockout loss to Oliver McCall, although those fights were years apart.
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Lewis, speaking to members of the media before the Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz II fight on Nov. 23, wouldn’t predict how things might go for Joshua in the rematch but said their situations were entirely different.
“The way I lost was one punch,” he said. “When you lose by one punch, then you know the problem is not to get punched. For me, it was just a defensive error. It was like falling off a horse. OK, you fell off a horse. Let just get on the horse and show you I can ride the horse.
“It was a situation where, yeah, he caught me with one punch but he’s not a better fighter than me. I have more talent them him. … What I need to do is my best, don’t make a silly mistake because that’s what allowed me to lose the fight.”
In other words, Joshua knew exactly what the problem was and how to correct it. Joshua? That’s a different story.
His loss against Ruiz wasn’t the result of a single mistake or a single blow. Joshua was knocked down four times before the fight was stopped. And his body language when referee Michael Griffin waved off the fight screamed, “I’m hurt, I’m lost, I have no idea what to do.”
Some wonder whether that sense of helplessness can be damaging psychologically – and linger.
“(Joshua) can look at the tape and say, ‘When I get hurt, I need to hold him properly,’” Lewis said the week of Wilder-Ruiz. “That’s one thing I noticed. The second thing is he came back to the corner (after being hurt) and said, ‘What’s happening? What is he doing?’ I don’t know what happened but he obviously has gone back to the drawing board and looked at what he needs to do. Let’s hope he can correct it before the fight.
“… It was a bad loss,” Lewis added. “He’s got a heavy task ahead of him. He’s making the right moves. … (But) he needs to learn a lot of stuff.”
Lewis also doesn’t think an immediate rematch was a good idea – “especially how he lost” – but the site of the fight, in another foreign country, seems to bother him more.
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The former three-time heavyweight champion and Hall of Famer doesn’t begrudge promoter Eddie Hearn the money generated by staging the fight in Saudi Arabia. That’s his job, Lewis said.
At the same time, fighters’ needs aren’t always met when business comes first.
“(Joshua’s) promoter should really have brought the fight back to England, where his family is, where his crowd is, and build him back up that way,” Lewis said. “Now he’s been brought back to another foreign country where he doesn’t know anybody. …
“I don’t think an event should be made just because of the money. It should be what’s better for your fight, what’s the best place for your fighter, to guarantee the win. … Promoters try to get the most money possible but the promoter and boxer and supposed to work hand in hand.”
In the end, Lewis said, Joshua can win if he’s ready.
“If Joshua doesn’t come in mentally and physically prepared, he’ll lose the fight,” Lewis said. “… He felt he wasn’t in the best shape (in the first fight), so he’s gotten himself in great shape. That gives him confidence. He was 50 percent in the first fight and was able to hurt Ruiz but couldn’t take him out. Now he’s 100 percent. Now if he hurts the guy, he will be able to take him out.
“That’s what will be in his head, ‘I’m a better boxer than him and I’ll show him.’
Andy Ruiz Jr. weighed 283.7 pounds — 15-plus more than in their first fight — for his rematch with Anthony Joshua on Saturday.
283.7 pounds?
Any Ruiz Jr., who had talked about slimming down for his rematch with Anthony Joshua on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, weighed in today at 283.7 pounds. That’s 15 more than he weighed for their first fight, in June, and the most he’s weighed for a fight since he came in at 292½ for his second pro bout.
Joshua weighed 237.8, roughly 10 pounds less than he weighed for their first fight. That’s his lightest since he weighed 236½ when he fought Denis Bakhtov in 2014, which presumably means he’ll be more nimble in the fight.
Ruiz stunned the boxing world by putting Joshua down four times and stopping him the seventh round to win three of the four major heavyweight titles at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“They made us wait until 4:30, almost 5 p.m. here,” Ruiz said. “I already had ate breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had on a sombrero and all my clothes. A lot of people are saying that I came overweight or this and that. We had to wait so long. I probably put on like 10 pounds just eating and drinking normally today.”
Ruiz insists that he didn’t let his weight get away from him.
Andy Ruiz Jr (left) weighed in 45.9 pounds more than Anthony Joshua for their rematch Saturday in Saudi Arabia. Dave Thompson / Matchroom Boxing
“We were lighter during camp,” he said, “but then I thought being the same weight or heavier would be an advantage. We did so many 12 rounds of sparring, so the conditioning is still there.”
Ruiz’s trainer, Manny Robles, had said on a conference call Thursday that his fighter would weigh around 268 again. It was clear then that Ruiz hadn’t slimmed down.
Special New Jersey BetMGM Joshua vs. Ruiz 2 Prop Bet
Bet $1, WIN $100 in free bets if either Anthony Joshua or Andy Ruiz Jr. get knocked down during their fight Saturday, December 7, 2019. Bet Now! New customer offer, visit BetMGM for terms and conditions
However, the 283.7 figure was surprising.
What does it mean? Can we assume that Ruiz didn’t take his training seriously? After all, even if we believe that he put on 10 pounds eating today, he hasn’t weighed in the 270s for a fight in five years.
Or does that weight not matter as much as we presume? Ruiz has always been fat yet has had quick hands and moved well.
Of course, we’ll know a lot more when they step into the ring.
The card, in Diriyah, will be streamed live on DAZN.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
The boxing world and sports bettors are in for another treat this weekend, as Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua meet in a compelling rematch.
The boxing world and sports bettors are in for another treat this weekend, as Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua meet in a much-anticipated rematch.
They met for the first time on June 1, when the underdog Ruiz (33-1, 22 knockouts) stopping Joshua in the seventh round. Ruiz defied the 11:1 odds against him and emerged with three of the four major heavyweight titles … and, yet, the champion is the underdog again!
Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) looks for revenge against the only boxer who has ever defeated him.
Ruiz vs Joshua II betting odds and lines
Per BetMGM, Joshua (-250) enters as the favorite to win the rematch.
Bet $1, WIN $100 in free bets if either Anthony Joshua or Andy Ruiz Jr. get knocked down during their fight Saturday, December 7, 2019. Bet Now! New customer offer, visit BetMGM for terms and conditions
New to sports betting? -250 odds gives Joshua an implied 71.43% chance to win, which is 2/5 in fractional. A $10 wager on Joshua to win returns just a $4 profit.
Meanwhile, Ruiz Jr. enters as the +188 underdog vs. Joshua, per BetMGM. That’s a 34.72% implied chance of victory. And it’s much more profitable on the betting side, as a $10 wager here returns an $18.80 profit if Ruiz Jr. can make lightning strike twice in six months.
BetMGM has the odds of this one being a draw at +3300. As for the predicted length of time, the oddsmakers don’t like this one going the full 12 rounds, which has +275 odds on it. Anything less than 12 is the heavily favored oddsmaker point of view, coming in at -400.
Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua II
Viewing information
When is the Ruiz-Joshua II rematch?
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019
Where are Ruiz and Joshua fighting?
Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, at the Diriyah Arena
What time is the Ruiz-Joshua fight?
The event is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. ET with the main event scheduled for 3:45 p.m. ET.
Where can I watch Ruiz-Joshua II?
It will be streamed on DAZN. Subscribe to DAZN now.
Where can I bet on Ruiz-Joshua II?
If you’re in New Jersey, hit up BetMGM and take part in its special boxing prop bet.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Per BetMGM, Joshua (-250) is a moderate favorite to defeat Ruiz Jr. (+188) in their rematch Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua will go toe-to-toe for Ruiz’s heavyweight titles this Saturday in a rematch of last summer’s stunner at New York’s Madison Square Garden. This time the two will duel in a 15,000-seat open-air stadium in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, dubbed “Clash on the Dunes.” The main event is expected to start around 3:45 p.m. ET. This one comes at you via live stream on DAZN.
Joshua vs. Ruiz Jr.: What you need to know
Joshua (22-1-0, 21 knockouts) is looking for revenge after his shocking seventh-round loss to Ruiz (33-1-0, 22 KOs) in June.
Joshua was heavily favored in the first bout but was overwhelmed by Ruiz, whose historic upset rivals such other unforgettable stunners as Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson, Hasim Rahman taking down Lennox Lewis and Corrie Sanders upending Wladimir Klitschko.
Ruiz beat Joshua with both speed and power, hurting him early and then going in for the kill after some tentativeness and a lack of recovery on the Briton’s part.
Ruiz isn’t an Adonis in terms of his physical attributes – and some might wonder about his endurance – but, as he demonstrated against Joshua, he’s all business and effective once he gets into the ring.
Special New Jersey BetMGM Joshua vs. Ruiz 2 Prop Bet
Bet $1, WIN $100 in free bets if either Anthony Joshua or Andy Ruiz Jr. get knocked down during their fight Saturday, December 7, 2019. Bet Now! New customer offer, visit BetMGM for terms and conditions
Joshua vs. Ruiz odds, picks, tips, best bets
Per BetMGM, Joshua (-250) is a moderate favorite to return the favor against Ruiz Jr. (+188) on the 3-way betting line, with a draw (+3300) also a choice. You might want to avoid that, however, as it is extremely unlikely.
This has trilogy written all over it, and there are already some rumblings from the Ruiz camp that if Joshua scores the win, they would want a Joshua-Ruiz Jr. III bout. Expect that to happen.
Joshua probably will be a little more measured and less reckless than he was in the first fight, and you can bet he spent a lot of time on his defense. That might help the fight go a little deeper, although he will still be champing at the bit looking to repay Ruiz for the embarrassing defeat in June, too.
Joshua (+350) at full distance might not be a terrible play, but a wager on Joshua winning in Rounds 7-12 (+250) is a much better bet, and gives you more opportunity. He’ll get the knockout, and his belts back, and you can expect we’ll get a third installment of this series, too.
If you like Joshua for the KO/TKO/technical decision or DQ victory, BetMGM, you’ll have to lay a little money, but not much at (-125). A win on points by Joshua fetches a return of +350, which is a bit enticing, too. It’s a good bet, as mentioned above, to take the knockout instead, however. Joshua should be focused, determined and ready to return the favor. BetMGM has a special prop bet for those looking for the victory via KO or TKO, too.
If you feel the fight will go 12 rounds, with either fighter winning on points (+275), it is a bit of an intriguing play, but it went just seven last time, and Joshua should fire out of the box looking to end it sooner rather than later.
Are you new to sports betting? A $10 wager on Joshua straight up at -250 to win outright would return a $4.00 profit.
My recommendations are playing JOSHUA IN ROUNDS 7-12 (+250), while BETTING HIM STRAIGHT UP on the 3-way fight result line at (-250). I have a hard time seeing Ruiz beating him in two consecutive bouts, especially since that would eliminate the need for a third fight in this series. And let’s face it, boxing loves drama, and there would be none with another Ruiz win.
If you want some action on this title bout or other boxing matches, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Anthony Joshua says his loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. was a learning experience that has helped him grow as a fighter.
Anthony Joshua has called his stunning knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. a “learning situation.”
Ruiz shocked the boxing world by putting Joshua down four times and stopping him in seven rounds in June to take the Englishman’s three heavyweight titles. They meet again Saturday in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on DAZN.
Joshua said in a video distributed by DAZN that he’s a better fighter as a result of his first defeat.
“As long as I’m breathing, I’ve still got a second chance,” he said.
Joshua discussed his mindset with Chris Mannix of DAZN.
