Anthony Joshua was written off after getting destroyed by Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden back in June, but he is now a two-time heavyweight champion.
Joshua comprehensively defeated Ruiz Jr on points in their rematch in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night to regain the IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA (super) world titles.
It was a masterful performance from AJ in Saudi Arabia; the Brit schooled Ruiz from range and never allowed the Mexican-American to close the gap.
Joshua jabbed Ruiz Jr to death and he never gave the champion a chance to get inside and land the nasty hooks that led to AJ’s demise the first time around.
Straight after the fight, both men showed their respect for one another and embraced before they did their post-fight interviews.
When Joshua asked Ruiz if he wanted to retire following calls for AJ to do the same after he lost in New York, Ruiz answered that he wanted a third fight.
Grabbing the mic, he said: “I want the third fight”. He then asked the crowd: “Who wants to see the third fight?”
In fact, Ruiz Jr asked the Saudi Arabia crowd several times if they would like to see a third fight between the two men and he seemed to want to do it in Saudi again, too.
Joshua suggested he was well up for it too, declaring: “If you’ve heard, we’re gonna do a third.”
Ruiz was outclassed on the night, and he admits he went into the rematch too heavy, having tipped the scales at more than 20 stone on Friday.
“It was his night. I didn’t prepare how I should have,” he said.
“I gained too much weight. I don’t want to give excuses, he won. He boxed me around.
“If we do a third fight you best believe I’m going to get in shape. I’ll be in the best shape of my life.
“I thought I was going to feel stronger. Next fight I’m going to get more prepared. I tried to train myself for this.
“I was chasing him too much. I was hesitating too much.”