…….Back to his corner Joshua was almost passing out, his trainer, McCracken, was giving him instructions and he asked what really happened, “what shot was it”, his trainer explained briefly how he was knocked down.
……...At the end of the 6th, …….”what punch should I throw”, “what punch should I avoid”.
Let’s go back to how it all began….
Boxing has an anticipation of the most devastating, humiliating thing a man can ever go through which is complete dominance in front of other people, laying on your back as a man stands victorious over you, there’s nothing quite like it.
Anthony just by mere observatiom is an unbelievable physical specimen, well chiseled body, tall, standing at 6ft6inch height, long arms, handsome face, cute smile, and at the peak of his career. He won the Olympic Gold medal at London 2012. He was the Heavyweight Champion of the world, undefeated, knocked out all of his opponents except one. He looked like a Greek sculpture, like what you would get if someone went to the lab and made an ideal boxing heavyweight Champion. He has the charisma and right attitude as well, very charming and loved by everyone.
But one thing was missing in his career, he has never fought on the U.S soil. The U.S is home to the greatest boxing champions of all time in different weight classes, home to the Boxing Hall of Fame. A great champion has to fight on the U.S soil, it’s just tradition. To be a true recognized Heavyweight Champion of the world you have to make it in America, Joshua has fought all his fight in Europe and felt it was time to take the next step.
His opponent was meant to be Jarrell Miller, the undefeated American boxer with a big mouth. But Jarrell Miller fail three different drug tests after promising to knock AJ out. Fight between the two was cancelled, and the authorities and AJ’s managers went in search of a late replacement.
Andy Ruiz jnr, the Mexican American took up the fight, just about four weeks prior to the fight date, he had a match about 3 weeks before, so he felt he was in good shape to fight. He had a record of 33 wins, 21 knockouts and only 1 loss, a loss which was very controversial decision by the judges.
When the name Andy Ruiz jnr came up as AJ’s opponent, it was the first time most people heard the name. In most people’s opinion, Ruiz was the least worthy opponent for AJ, he is 4inch shorter, overweight, looks like he in the worse shape a boxer can be, chubby kid, short legs and arms, looks like someone who’ll easily gas out. Looking at him, he is not the kind of guy you want to put on the camera and tell boxing fans he’s challenging for the world heavyweight title, many people won’t buy tickets anymore.
The fight was to take place in Madison Square Garden, the most famous and historical boxing arena, where almost all the greatest fights in boxing history was held.
Finally, the fight night came, the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden was electric, over 10,000 Brits have flown over to America to watch their champion.
When Ruiz walked in, there was no cheering, there was a look of disappointment on the faces of a lot of people…
But when Anthony Joshua walked in, it was like a superhero walked into the arena.
When they stood face to face in the ring, the size difference was so glaring that everyone was expecting a quick knockout from Joshua. Fans anticipated the most lopsided asswhooping in pugilistic history.
Fight starts, round one and two was uneventful, both fighters were still warming up and getting used to each other in the ring. AJ dominated rounds 1 and 2 with his left jab. The tempo was building up gradually. Things were happening as most people expected.
Then round 3, AJ’s jab was still giving Ruiz a lot of problem, and from nowhere AJ threw a jab, then landed a flash uppercut followed by a left hook and down goes Ruiz.
The Crowd was filled with excitement, it was beautiful, this is exactly the way everything was supposed to be. AJ is one of the best finishers in the sport, everyone was expecting to clear out their seats and go home. Ruiz beat the count and got up, AJ rushed in to finish him off, landed a big right hand and a fury fest ensued between the two, then from nowhere, Ruiz lands a left hook behind Joshua’s ear and the champ staggered, Ruiz rushed in landed a couple of punches and down goes the champ.
Jaws dropped, the crowd couldn’t believe what they were seeing. AJ got up, but he was unable to regain his equilibrium, Ruiz went in for the finished, smacked him around with a left and a right, punches to the head and the body, wearing the big man down. And as the barrage of bunches kept landing, one huge right hand from Ruiz landed square on AJ’s chin, and down goes the champion again, the second time in round 3.
This time AJ got up at the count of 7, but he couldn’t obey the referees command, the referee said walk towards me and he couldn’t, that was enough to end the fight and decleare Ruiz winner by technical knockout (T.K.O). In boxing when when a fighter gets up from a knockdown and he’s unable to obey simple command like rise up your hand, where are you or walk towards me, the fight is ended, because it’s an indication of a temporary brain injury.
But there are benefits to being a champion, so the referee let AJ recover for a while and then the bell rang and the round was over. AJ was saved by the bell.
Back to his corner Joshua was almost passing out, his trainer, McCracken, was giving him instructions and he asked what really happened, “what shot was it”, his trainer explained briefly how he was knocked down.
It shocked the commentators, the champ didn’t know what hit him and how he was hit. In boxing its often said that the punch you don’t see coming is what knocks you out.
Joshua recovered at the end of the 4th round and landed some good punches through the 5th and 6th. Then in the 7th round. But something was wrong, AJ didn’t know what was really going on, at the end of the 6th, he asked Bob McCracken, “what punch should I throw”, “what punch should I avoid”.
The champ was confused, he hasn’t been in that position before. Being this confused. And Olympus fell in the 7th round, Ruiz had a sudden burst of adrenaline and a speed that was startling, punches landing in bunches, seemed like he had eight arms or something, and down goes AJ for the 3rd time. The crowd stares in disbelief.
It must have been a nightmare for AJ, he was getting beating up in front of his UK fans that flew all the way from Europe to witness an AJ corronation in Madison Square Garden, U.S.A.
But he was the champ and he is a fighter, he got up immediately, went up against his greatest adversary, threw some punches but got two in return and goes down again. 4 knockdowns already. AJ got up, still had one knee on the ground, spat out his mouthpiece (toothguard), stared at his coach and everybody, saw the look of surprise on the face of his fans and was like, enough of this nightmare.
Went back to his corner, stood up walked to corner, the ref picked up.his mouthpiece rushed after him thinking he was just trying to buy more time. But the champ has had enough of the humiliation. Standing in his corner, hands on the ropes he quit the fight.
Andy Ruiz Jnr, shocked the world, became the first person to beat Anthony Joshua, beacme the first Mexican world heavyweight champion. He had nothing to loose so he threw every single thing in him against AJ, and it payed off. The fight was one of the most shocking upsets in boxing history. But AJ would right his wrongs 6 months later in Saudi Arabia to become a 2 time world heavyweight champion.