The boxing world was left in shock on June 1st, 2019, when underdog Andy Ruiz Jr. defeated Anthony Joshua to become the unified heavyweight champion of the world.
Many experts and fans had predicted a Joshua victory, but Ruiz pulled off a stunning upset that will go down in history as one of the biggest upsets in the sport.
But how did he do it?
In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the factors that contributed to Ruiz’s victory and examine the strategies and techniques he used to outsmart and outbox Joshua.
Andy Ruiz’s professional record before his fight against Anthony Joshua was somewhat mixed. He had a total of 32 professional rows, with a history of 31 wins and 1 loss.
Ruiz began his professional career in 2009 and quickly established himself as a rising star in the sport. He had a successful run of early fights, winning his first 18 fights, with 13 of those wins coming by knockout.
In 2016, Ruiz had his first major test as a professional when he faced Joseph Parker for the WBO Heavyweight Title. Despite making a valiant effort, Ruiz was ultimately defeated by a unanimous decision.
Following his loss to Parker, Ruiz rebounded with a string of wins, including a victory over former world champion Alexander Dimitrenko. He also defeated a solid contender in Kevin Johnson.
However, despite these wins, Ruiz was still seen as an underdog heading into his fight against Joshua. Many experts and analysts had written him off as a “trial horse” for Joshua and not a serious contender for the title. Ruiz, however, proved them all wrong with his stunning upset victory over Joshua, solidifying his place as a true heavyweight contender and world champion.
Andy Ruiz's Work Rate
Andy Ruiz’s work rate in the ring was one of the critical factors contributing to his victory over Anthony Joshua. Ruiz is known for his high-intensity, relentless style of fighting, which allows him to maintain a fast pace throughout the entire fight.
One of the hallmarks of Ruiz’s work rate is his ability to throw a high volume of punches. He is known for his quick hands and accurate punching, allowing him to land many punches on his opponents. In the fight against Joshua, Ruiz landed a total of 126 punches, significantly more than Joshua’s 73.
Another aspect of Ruiz’s work rate is his ability to maintain an elevated energy level and intensity throughout the fight. He is known for his strong stamina and endurance, which allows him to keep a fast pace even in later rounds.
In the Joshua fight, Ruiz maintained his high work rate throughout the entire fight and kept Joshua on the back foot for most of the battle.
Ruiz’s work rate is also characterized by his ability to maintain high pressure on his opponents. He is known for his aggressive fighting style, which allows him to constantly push forward and pressure his opponents.
This fighting style can be challenging for opponents, making it difficult to establish their rhythm and find their own space in the ring.
In summary, Andy Ruiz’s work rate is characterized by his high-intensity, relentless style of fighting, which allows him to maintain a fast pace throughout the entire fight, throw a high volume of punches, maintain a high level of energy and intensity, and put pressure on his opponents. These elements of his work rate were crucial factors in his upset victory over Anthony Joshua.
Andy Ruiz's Punch Resistance
Andy Ruiz’s punch resistance played a crucial role in his upset victory over Anthony Joshua. Punch resistance refers to a fighter’s ability to absorb and withstand punches without being knocked out or knocked down.
Ruiz’s punch resistance is one of his greatest strengths as a fighter, and it was on full display in his fight against Joshua.
One of the critical factors that contributed to Ruiz’s punch resistance was his prominent chin. A good chin refers to the ability to take punches without getting knocked out, and Ruiz has a reputation for having one of the best chins in the sport.
Ruiz has been hit with some of the most brutal punches thrown by some of the top heavyweights throughout his career, and he has yet to be knocked out. This was evident in the Joshua fight, where Joshua landed some heavy shots, but Ruiz could absorb them and stay on his feet.
Another factor that contributes to Ruiz’s punch resistance is his excellent defense. Ruiz is known for his ability to slip and dodge punches, which allows him to avoid taking heavy shots on the chin. He also has a good sense of timing and distance, which enables him to move in and out of range quickly and effectively.
This was evident in the Joshua fight, where Ruiz could avoid many of Joshua’s power shots and counter effectively.
Ruiz’s punch resistance is also a result of his exceptional conditioning. Ruiz is in great physical shape, which allows him to withstand the rigors of a fight and maintain his punch resistance throughout the entire fight.
He also carries a high level of fitness and endurance, which allows him to maintain a high work rate and put pressure on his opponents.
In conclusion, Andy Ruiz’s punch resistance is one of his greatest strengths as a fighter. It results from his prominent chin, excellent defense, and exceptional conditioning. These elements of his punch resistance were crucial factors in his upset victory over Anthony Joshua.
Andy Ruiz's Gameplan and Adaptability
Andy Ruiz’s game plan and adaptability were critical factors that led to his upset victory over Anthony Joshua. A game plan refers to a fighter’s strategy, and adaptability refers to the fighter’s ability to adjust and change their strategy during the fight.
Ruiz’s game plan and adaptability were fully displayed in his fight against Joshua.
Ruiz’s game plan was to pressure Joshua and fight on the inside. He knew that Joshua was vulnerable to pressure and that fighting on the inside would limit Joshua’s mobility and power.
Ruiz was able to execute this game plan effectively, using his inside fighting skills to close the distance and control the fight’s pace. He also landed some heavy shots on Joshua, causing him to become more vulnerable as the fight progressed.
Another aspect of Ruiz’s game plan was to counter Joshua’s power shots. Ruiz knew that Joshua was a powerful puncher and would have to be careful of Joshua’s power shots. He did this effectively, using his defense and counter-punching skills to avoid Joshua’s power shots and land effective shots of his own.
This was evident in the Joshua fight, where Ruiz was able to counter Joshua’s power shots effectively and land some heavy shots of his own.
Ruiz’s adaptability was also on full display in the fight. He adjusted his game plan as the fight progressed, adapting to Joshua’s style and exploiting his weaknesses. When Joshua began to tire and become more vulnerable, Ruiz increased the pressure and landed some heavy shots, ultimately leading to an upset victory.
In conclusion, Andy Ruiz’s game plan and adaptability were critical factors that led to his upset victory over Anthony Joshua. His ability to execute a well-thought-out game plan, counter Joshua’s power shots, and adapt to the fight as it progressed, enabled him to dictate the fight’s pace and ultimately secure the upset victory.
These elements of his strategy and adaptability played a crucial role in his success.
Anthony Joshua's Underestimation
Anthony Joshua’s underestimation of Andy Ruiz was a significant factor that contributed to his defeat. Joshua, who was heavily favored to win the fight, underestimated Ruiz’s abilities and the challenge that Ruiz would pose.
One of how Joshua underestimated Ruiz was in his approach to the fight. Joshua appeared to take Ruiz lightly and did not seem to take the fight as seriously as he should have.
He appeared to be somewhat focused and prepared for the fight. He did not take Ruiz’s abilities seriously. This was evident in Joshua’s training leading up to the fight, where he appeared to be more focused on promoting the war than preparing for it.
Another way in which Joshua underestimated Ruiz was in his underestimation of Ruiz’s power. Joshua seemed to believe that his power would be enough to defeat Ruiz and did not seem to take Ruiz’s power seriously. This was evident in Joshua’s defense, where he appeared to focus more on avoiding Ruiz’s punches than defending against them.
Joshua also underestimated Ruiz’s inside fighting abilities. Joshua had never been in a fight where he had to fight at close range, and Ruiz’s inside fighting skills were one of his strengths. Joshua seemed to believe that his reach and height would be enough to keep Ruiz at bay and did not seem to take Ruiz’s inside fighting abilities seriously.
This was evident in Joshua’s defense, where he seemed to focus more on avoiding Ruiz’s punches than defending against them.
Anthony Joshua’s underestimation of Andy Ruiz was a significant factor that contributed to his defeat. Joshua’s approach to the fight, underestimation of Ruiz’s power and inside fighting abilities, and lack of focus and preparation, enabled Ruiz to dictate the fight’s pace and ultimately secure the upset victory. Joshua’s underestimation of Ruiz played a crucial role in his defeat.
Anthony Joshua's Lack of Defense
Anthony Joshua’s lack of defense was a significant factor that contributed to his defeat against Andy Ruiz. Joshua’s security, or lack thereof, allowed Ruiz to dictate the fight’s pace and ultimately secure the upset victory.
One of the critical areas where Joshua’s defense needed to be improved was his inability to defend against Ruiz’s power shots. Joshua seemed to believe that his power would be enough to defeat Ruiz and did not seem to take Ruiz’s power seriously.
This was evident in Joshua’s defense, where he seemed to focus more on avoiding Ruiz’s punches than defending against them. Ruiz was able to land some heavy shots on Joshua, causing him to become more vulnerable as the fight progressed.
Another area where Joshua’s defense could have been improved was in his inability to defend against Ruiz’s inside fighting. Joshua seemed to believe that his reach and height would be enough to keep Ruiz at bay and did not seem to take Ruiz’s inside fighting abilities seriously.
This was evident in Joshua’s defense, where he seemed to focus more on avoiding Ruiz’s punches than defending against them. Ruiz could close the distance and control the pace of the fight with his inside fighting skills, ultimately leading to an upset victory.
Additionally, Joshua’s lack of head movement made him an easy target for Ruiz. Joshua often stood upright, making it easier for Ruiz to hit him with his punches. Joshua’s lack of head movement made it difficult for him to avoid Ruiz’s punches and allowed Ruiz to land some heavy shots.
Anthony Joshua’s lack of defense significantly contributed to his defeat against Andy Ruiz. Joshua’s inability to defend against Ruiz’s power shots, inside fighting, and lack of head movement enabled Ruiz to dictate the pace of the fight and ultimately secure the upset victory. Joshua’s lack of defense played a crucial role in his defeat.
Significance For the Heavyweight Division
Andy Ruiz’s victory over Anthony Joshua was a shock to the boxing world and a significant event for the heavyweight division. Ruiz’s victory broke the mold of the typical heavyweight champion, as he disproved the notion that only tall, lean fighters could be successful in the division.
Ruiz’s success as a shorter, heavier fighter has opened the door for other fighters who may not fit the traditional mold and has shown that boxing is a sport where anyone can achieve greatness with hard work and determination.
Another vital aspect of Ruiz’s victory is that it has revitalized the heavyweight division, which had declined in recent years. The division is wide open with Joshua’s defeat, and several exciting new challengers are eager to step up and claim the title. This has created a renewed interest and excitement in the division and has the potential to bring back the glory days of heavyweight boxing.
Ruiz’s victory has also highlighted the importance of Mexican boxers in the sport. Ruiz, who is of Mexican descent, became the first Mexican heavyweight champion in history and has brought a new level of visibility and recognition to Mexican boxers.
His victory has also shown that Mexican boxers can achieve greatness in any weight class and has inspired a new generation of Mexican fighters to pursue their dreams.
Andy Ruiz’s victory over Anthony Joshua was not only a shocking and historic event in the world of boxing but also a significant one for the heavyweight division, the sport of boxing, and Mexican boxers. Ruiz’s victory has opened new doors, shattered stereotypes, and sparked renewed interest in the sport, proving that anything is possible with challenging work, determination, and heart.