'Biggest upset in sports history': Andy Ruiz Jr stuns boxing world with Anthony Joshua TKO
Andy Ruiz has flattened Anthony Joshua twice in the seventh round and capped one of boxing's biggest upsets to win his share of the heavyweight championship at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Ruiz won it at 1:27 by TKO in the seventh round to become the surprise champ in a bout that had shades of Buster Douglas' upset over Mike Tyson in 1990.
"I can't believe I just made my dream come true, the sky is the limit," Ruiz said in the ring.
"That was the first time I've been down on the floor and it just made me stronger.
"I'm a Mexican warrior, I have that blood in me. I just made history for Mexico."
Ruiz barely was on anyone's heavyweight radar when summoned as a replacement to fight champion Joshua in front of a packed Garden on Saturday night.
All he did was dominate the British champion.
Ruiz knocked down Joshua twice in the third round and did it two more times in the seventh before referee Mike Griffin ended the fight.
He stepped in after fighting on April 20, when he stopped Alexander Dimitrenko.
Jarrell Miller's failed drug tests sent the challenger to the sideline.
Ruiz (33-1, 21 KO's) seized the opportunity and made boxing history to win the WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO championships.
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Speaking to BBC 5 Live, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn said he was shocked by the outcome.
"AJ got sloppy," he said.
"He got sloppy, he got hit on the top of the head and he never really recovered.
"There were times in the fifth and sixth round that I felt he did recover and then again got caught and seemed to run out of gas.
"The night belongs to Andy Ruiz. It goes down as one of the big upsets in heavyweight history."
Fans react to Andy Ruiz Jr’s shock victory
Boxing fans around the world were stunned by what they saw from Ruiz Jr on Sunday afternoon.
Social media was shocked by the result, with armchair coaches and sporting experts alike in awe of the Mexican fighter’s display.
Wooooooooow biggest upset in sports history #JoshuaRuizJr
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) June 2, 2019
Yet another reminder that boxing isn’t a bodybuilding contest. Anthony Joshua sports perhaps the most impressive physique in boxing. Andy Ruiz is the kind of guy who might wear a t-shirt in the pool. And here we are #JoshuaRuiz
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) June 2, 2019
I don’t even know what to say right now! 😦 #JoshuaRuiz
— Lennox Lewis (@LennoxLewis) June 2, 2019
Ruiz is the first-ever Mexican heavyweight champion. He wasn’t even supposed to be the opponent tonight. Ruiz came in one month ago to replace Jarrell Miller, who failed a drug test. This is unreal. #JoshuaRuiz
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) June 2, 2019
Unbelievable. AJ loses in what was supposed to be his big US showcase fight. That is a massive shocker. #JoshuaRuiz
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) June 2, 2019
Humbled by what I saw. Fearless Andy Ruiz Jr. just shook up the world. #JoshuaRuiz
— Brian Campbell (@BCampbellCBS) June 2, 2019
I’m just stupified — and it was a legit win too. He beat the hell out of him. What just happened??????? https://t.co/5j3UDtl8ja
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 2, 2019
The impetus for that final exchange was actually when Ruiz was initially hurt by Joshua’s left hook and it caused Ruiz to get back to his reckless no care let them fly approach and won him the title. #joshuaruiz
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) June 2, 2019
...But i do want to say congrats to Andy Ruiz for becoming the first EVER Mexican Heavyweight champ! #Respect To AJ... Pick urself up and learn from this. Don’t worry, you will bounce back! #JoshuaRuiz@FightScorecard
— Lennox Lewis (@LennoxLewis) June 2, 2019
WITH AAP