The 19-stone American-Mexican wasn’t even given a prayer
Drafted in as a late replacement after Anthony Joshua’s initial opponent Jarrell Miller failed multiple drug tests, Andy Ruiz Junior was quoted as high as 25/1 by bookmakers before this heavyweight title showdown.
He was widely mocked for his physique, written off in almost every corner but in the early hours of Saturday morning, he came good. “
In what has since been dubbed as one of the greatest shocks in heavyweight history, the 29-year-old destroyer left a shocked Madison Square Garden with the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
Nobody was as shocked as Anthony Joshua, the previously unbeaten Watford native. Despite a strong start, he was floored a total of four times in this fight, the final time coming in the 7th round with the referee intervening to put a sluggish and gassed English man out of his misery.
And Ruiz stood tall, he’d done it, achieved his dreams.
"I cant believe I just made my dream come true, the sky is the limit!"
Andy Ruiz Jr becomes the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world! 🇲🇽
Anthony Joshua was shocked by Andy Ruiz Jr in a monumental heavyweight upset at Madison Square Garden: https://t.co/3Tl3sSp2VP pic.twitter.com/N9ZDyOW6Sx
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) June 2, 2019
“My dream’s come true, I want to go and get in shape and look like a Mexican Anthony,” he said afterwards.
“The sky is the limit!”
But just who is Andy Ruiz Junior, the new heavyweight champion of the world and the butt of so many jokes coming into this one?
Date of birth September 11 1989 (29 years old)
Height : 6ft 2in (188cm)
Born:Â Imperial Valley, California
Weight:Â 19 stone 2lbs
Record:Â 32-0-1 (21KO)
Ruiz had been fighting a lesser calibre of opponent but the fact that he was only beaten once in his career was more than likely overlooked before the fight. In his last fight, he knocked out the German Alexander Dimitrenko in round five. He once fought for a world title before, losing to Joseph Parker in 2016.
Pre fight meal:Â Steak and Snickers
We’re just going to leave this out there. Ruiz has a sponsorship deal with Snickers and his Twitter profile is adorned with a Snickers bar as its cover.
“My dad’s been given me Snickers since I was six years old. Since I first turned amateur, my dad’s been giving it to me. Best believe I will be eating Snickers before the fight with AJ,” he said in the below video.
What a man.
