Ryad (AFP)
He is back in business: Britain's Anthony Joshua took revenge on Saturday in Diriya (Saudi Arabia) on Andy Ruiz and recovered in points his world belts IBF, WBA and WBO heavy, recovering after the snub suffered in June facing the American.
Six months after being knocked out to the surprise in the 7th round by this chubby and paunchy boxer, Joshua (30 years old, 23 victories including 21 KO, 1 defeat) set the record straight, showing that this defeat, the first of his career, was just an accident of course.
Presented as a real phenomenon, supposed to reign long years on the most prestigious category of "noble art", Joshua started from scratch and played big, a second rout that could have serious consequences for the rest of his career, moving away from highs. But he obviously learned the lesson and learned from his New York nightmare. In a stadium of 15,000 seats built especially for the occasion at the gates of Ryad, the puncher from across the Channel has put aside the show, wanting to be effective first.
Distrustful and vigilant, Joshua did nothing to pack the fight. No doubt the memory of the 3 KOs suffered at Madison Square Garden was still too much alive. Anxious to maintain the distance to not expose himself to the rapid blows of Ruiz (30 years, 33 victories, 2 defeats, 22 KO), the Brit especially tried to avoid the fatal counter and handled caution, even to go to end of 12 times. A paid tactic.
Joshua had put all the assets on his side, training with sparring partners with characteristics similar to Ruiz and losing weight (107.5 kilos) to gain mobility. This was in the ring where he ended up annoying his opponent, unable to frame his shots and opened the left arcade in the first round.
"I wanted to show off my boxing science, it's all about touching without being touched," Joshua said.
- The Wilder fantasy -
It must be said that the Mexican-born American had, however, visibly benefited from his unexpected new status, charging seven kilos more than in June on the scale (128,36). An overweight that felt very clearly, especially at the end of the fight where he appeared very blunt.
"I was not well enough prepared," he admitted, "but it was his evening, I do not want to look for excuses."
After this reconquest, new perspectives will inevitably open for Joshua, while a fight against Deontay Wilder (42 wins, including 41 by KO, a draw), the fierce WBC champion, is fantasizing the world of professional boxing. But the American first has a first appointment to honor with the whimsical British Tyson Fury, February 22.
The other big winner of the evening is Saudi Arabia. The organization of this fight in the kingdom is part of the sports diplomacy initiated by the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the arena of Diriya vibrated despite the lack of commitment of the two boxers.
Amnesty International has, however, sharply criticized Saudi Arabia's choice, denouncing the war that Ryad has been waging since the beginning of a coalition in Yemen, the October 2018 assassination in Turkey of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and, in general, the crackdown. of dissent
In addition to boxing, the country has just hosted the E-Prix electric formula and will soon organize a tennis exhibition (12-14 December), the Dakar-2020 rally (5-17 January) and the Spanish Supercup football for the next three seasons.
© 2019 AFP