Anthony Joshua didn’t let exacting revenge get in the way of his common sense.
He flicked his jab to near perfection, keeping Andy Ruiz Jr. at bay and negating the Destroyer’s hand speed and pressure to deliver a boxing clinic and become a two-time world unified heavyweight champion. Fighting the smart fight gave Joshua a unanimous decision victory, as judges scored it 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109 at the Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Sporting News had it 118-110 for Joshua.
“The first time was so nice, I had to do it twice,” Joshua exclaimed in the ring. “I just wanted to put on a great master’s class.”
He added: “Sometimes with certain fighters, you have to box smarter as well. I understand what Andy brings to the table, so you have to decapitate him in another way.”
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Joshua then evoked Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s mantra by reminding fans that boxing is about hitting and not getting hit.
Well, he did that to near perfection Saturday, using his left jab to keep Ruiz at bay. Joshua, who came in 10 pounds lighter, combined the jab with great movement with his feet, which further frustrated Ruiz.
The defeated Ruiz said it was Joshua’s night, but admitted he didn’t do his best job preparing for this bout, entering the rematch 15 pounds heavier.
“I don’t think I prepared as I should’ve,” said Ruiz, trying to rile up a just enough cause for a trilogy fight. “I gained too much weight.”
Joshua, behind the jab and bounce in his step, didn’t allow the pressuring Ruiz to mount any damaging offense, as Ruiz’s fast hands, but also slow feet were on full display.
Here’s how the entire “Clash on the Dunes” card went. Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua 2 round-by-round results
5:10 p.m.: There it is: Joshua crowned two-time unified world heavyweight champion. He wins by unanimous decision (118-110, 118-110 and 119-109).
