ANTHONY JOSHUA faced Andy Ruiz in Saudi Arabia in a bid to get his heavyweight titles back.
Here’s how our SunSport boxing reporter Wally Downes Jr, live at ringside, saw the fight.
Anthony Joshua is fighting Andy Ruiz for the heavyweight title in Saudi ArabiaCredit: PA:Press Association
ROUND ONE
Ruiz finally took his shirt and and looked every gram of the 20st 3lbs he was announced as on Friday in a huge surprise.
AJ looked ripped and shredded, so much more like a boxer than the bodybuilder he resembled in June.
Ruiz jabbed to the body, Joshua danced away and threw his first big straight right which Ruiz ignored.
Both men jab again to the body and AJ lands a huge right that slashes the corner of Ruiz’s left eye.
ROUND TWO
The crowd roared during the break when AJ’s arrow-like right hand ripped Ruiz’s eye was replayed on the four huge screens
A stiffening double-jab from Ruiz robbed AJ of any early bravado but his left eye was already leaking again.
A left hook from AJ landed just as Ruiz darted in for another jab and the champ cried foul for a shot on the back of the head and AJ almost wiped him out but then Ruiz cut’s AJ’s left eye with a hook.
AJ was almost dragged into a battle but he ended the round dancing with his hands down.
ROUND THREE
The third crept by without much incident, the biggest punch Ruiz threw sailed wide but warned the Brit of his bludgeoning intentions.
Everytime Ruiz edged forward an inch, Joshua pinged him back with a jab and a brilliant combination won him the third when a four-punch combination ended with a low left hook into Ruiz’s wobbling gut.
A cut opened on Ruiz’s left eye in the first roundCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
ROUND FOUR
AJ was just pawing his jab into Ruiz’s face to annoy him and an occasional jab would snap his head back.
Then two near misses, AJ slung a big right but Ruiz dodged it and threw left hook that Josh just managed to swerve.
Ruiz then evaded a huge right at the final nanosecond but another landed and stunned Ruiz but it was AJ clinging on the end after AJ was pinned onto the ropes and whacked with two right hooks to the left side of his face.
ROUND FIVE
AJ dictating the range perfectly and everytime they do engage Ruiz hurls scruffy shots that prove Rob McCracken’s tactics are spot on.
Joshua is exuding the ring generalship he had talked about and spanked the
champ with a right hand.
The Watford ace was stacking up miles on the clock, shuffling around the ring but he was surely banking rounds and points with his amateur style scoring points on the back foot and nullifying the little bomber who thrives on close encounters.
ROUND SIX
Ruiz landed with three left hooks, the very shot that ended AJ’s title reign in June. But, in a massive ego boost to the challenger, his new thin frame coped with them expertly.
A jab then fizzed into the champ and a follow up effort seemed to have the impact of a heavy right hand as sweat and spit spewed into the air.
The Brit did seem to shore signs of fatigue at the end of the round when he appeared to be shaking out his arms as lactic acid started to build up.
ROUND SEVEN
Ruiz missed with an early left hook because AJ read it like an old veteran.
The Mexican said he was willing to lose the opening four or five rounds before starting to pound AJ’s body but there was no sign of that strategy yet.
An AJ right connected but it grazed Ruiz’s forehead and skimmed to safety.
The Englishman talked to Ruiz in a late clinch and then beat his chest like King Kong before scoring with another straight right.
Joshua was ahead on most people’s cards at the halfway markCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
ROUND EIGHT
McCracken reminds AJ to keep his hands up for round eight.
Both man thud into the rival body in the clinch and Ruiz’s big trunk begins to redden.
Ruiz connects with two rights to the body but AJ’s weight loss has not harmed his six-pack resilience.
Referee Luis Pabon is getting very busy for no real reason.
Then Ruiz lands two huge rights that wobble AJ and he dives on his bike and pedals from danger as fast as his legs will carry him.
Two more massive rights score and the judges will have to hand Ruiz that round.
ROUND NINE
Joshua was tagged too many times with the right hand in the eighth.
Mexican Canelo was banging the ring in support for Ruiz.
AJ talks to Ruiz again but he needs to concentrate as the rounds are so tight.
An evil jab rams into Ruiz’s bearded face but he replies with a right hand and a left hook.
AJ is boxing like a 21-year-old Olympic champion here and he laughs off a double jab.
Joshua tagged the champ with a left uppercut but he is most dangerous after shipping a punch and scored back with a right hook and left hand.
ROUND TEN
Championship rounds now, fitness and will get tested here and now.
A Ruiz left hook misses but a straight right lands and a cloud of sweat bursts from Joshua’s head.
Another textbook jab from the Team GB handbook scored for the challenger.
Ruiz looked to be losing belief but remained so dangerous on the inside when most European fighters would expect to break cleanly, he is ready to throw bombs.
ROUND 11
Ruiz must be exhausted carrying over 20st and having chased Joshua around the ring all night.
The Brit is on course to win a clear points decision but would this wash with Deontay Wilder?
Ruiz clubs AJ on the back of the head as he ducks out but luckily the illegal shot skids off his afro.
The worry and concern for Joshua’s chin have melted away now. Fans are ready to see him crowned again.
Cries of ‘AJ, AJ’ ring out. They are only hushed by a swinging right hook that only grazes Joshua arms.
Anthony Joshua celebrates after he regains his heavyweight world titlesCredit: Reuters
ROUND 12
Three minutes away from being crowned a two-time world champion and defying his doubters and critics.
The gladiators touch gloves, Ruiz almost reluctantly.
Ruiz clips the soon-to-be-winner with a right hook but he shrewdly grabs and holds and kills the issue.
Joshua scores with a monster right hand but cannot afford to get greedy.
Ninety seconds of safety-first boxing and AJ is king again.
The crowd at the back are even emptying out as he is so close and likely to be clear on the cards.
AJ has boxed like a 40-year-old veteran tonight, not a lad with just 12 years experience.
One more Ruiz attack is avoided and he begs Joshua to engage in the centre. He ignores the desperate request and hears the bell. There was no celebration from Joshua, not even a smile.
VERDICT
Ruiz and AJ hug and Joshua’s dad gets into the ring to congratulate and hug his son.
Joshua gets wiped down and AJ’s dad Robert has just hugged Eddie Hearn, just six months ago he wanted to chin him over the shock loss in New York.
AJ raises his hands and climbs a corner turnbuckle, Eddie Hearn leaps and bounds around the ring like he has just put on a masterful 36 minute boxing lesson.
AJ and Ruiz meet in the middle and talk and embrace again.
Joshua holds his belts aloft and visits each side of the ring to meet the crowds.
With spotlets of blood still caught in his sideburn he surveys the situation and puts his arm around his dad.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
