Two weeks ago, American Deontay Wilder, the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion, promised fans that a title unification fight with Britain's Anthony Joshua would definitely happen, as The Inquisitr reported. This came after several years of accusations that Wilder was ducking Joshua. Now, that promise may be unnecessary. In the most stunning heavyweight upset in nearly two decades, 29-year-old Joshua lost the first fight of his career — and all of his championship belts — to unheralded American Andy Ruiz Jr. at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Ruiz, whose record now stands at 33-1 with 22 knockouts, was expected to serve as an easy victim for Joshua, in the British fighter's introduction to U.S. fight fans, with his first bout on America soil. Ruiz Jr., a 29-year-old from Imperial, California, becomes the first heavyweight of Mexican descent to win a championship. He was a late replacement after Joshua's scheduled opponent, Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller, failed three separate tests for performance-enhancing drugs, according to ESPN.
Joshua floored Ruiz for the first time in the American's career in the third round, and Ruiz responded with a series of flurries that sent Joshua to the canvas four times. The previously undefeated British fighter then turned his back on his opponent in the seventh round, and referee Michael Griffin then stopped the fight as Joshua stopped in his corner, as The Guardian reported.
