Did Anthony Joshua quit in the first fight with Andy Ruiz Jr.? Ruiz thinks so.
Ruiz said as much to Joshua’s face on the Sky Sports show “Gloves Are off,” hosted by Johnny Nelson, who asked Ruiz whether he agreed with those who think Joshua opted out of the fight after the fourth of four knockdowns in the seventh round in June.
“A little bit,” Ruiz said. “I feel he quit because of the way that it was won. I think he was still out of it, I didn’t think he knew where he was at that moment. I think that he quit.”
Naturally, Joshua took exception to that.
“The referee waved off the fight,” he said. “It’s just opinion. … I roll with it, I ride with it. I’m a champion through and through, no matter what anyone says to me.”
Nelson then asked Ruiz what he’d do in that position.
“Depends how hurt I was,” Ruiz replied. “I’m not gonna quit. If I fall, I fall.”
Joshua responded again.
“The conclusion is I quit, but I feel like, why wouldn’t I have stayed, though?” he said.
Ruiz then seemed to contradict himself, saying, “He was still up. The referee was the one that waved it off.”
Ruiz also said he has no choice but to end Joshua’s career with another victory when they meet again on Dec. 7 in Saudi Arabia on DAZN.
“I have to,” he said. “I have to, right? He’s trying to take my career as well. It’s either me or him inside the ring.”