Fans choose who they think Anthony Joshua should fight next
Fight fans have been having their say on who they believe two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua should fight next, and there was one name that was mentioned just that little bit more than the rest.
It appears fight fans want to see AJ complete his trilogy with Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr.
It was back in June 2019 when Joshua’s U.S. debut descended into disaster as he was floored four times on his way to a seventh-round stoppage and first defeat of his glittering professional boxing career.
The Fairy Tale of New York saw Andy Ruiz Jr become the first Mexican world heavyweight champion in history, despite being the overwhelming underdog, written off by almost everybody due to his portly frame and short stature when standing next to the 6′ 6″ defending champion.
The Brit was able to come back stronger six months and six days later to exact revenge over Ruiz with a dominant unanimous decision victory.
However, the landscape had changed dramatically. ‘The Destroyer’ was unfit and ill prepared, the dizzying heights of fame and fortune affecting his professionalism and dedication to the art.
AJ fought sensibly behind his longer reach and avoided any engagement with the powerful puncher from California, to grind out a comfortable but uneventful points win.
In the first fight, they equally exchanged and it was a gunfight at the OK Coral, which thrilled spectators. The rematch was duller than dishwater, however.
A trilogy will not only act as a decider, but it should see a 50-50 fight with Ruiz almost certain to not make the same mistakes again and prepare fully this time.
A fit AJ and prepared Ruiz should result in another exciting affair which could go either way – a fight that fans fully deserve.
The other names mentioned were: Zhilei Zhang; Dillian Whyte; Joseph Parker; Filip Hrgovic; Agit Kabayel.
The Fairy Tale of New York – Andy Ruiz Jr becomes first Mexican world heavyweight champion