Heavyweight

Boxing's biggest fight of 2019 is on Saturday, and it's an epic world heavyweight title rematch few saw coming. Anthony Joshua will get a second chance at Andy Ruiz Jr., the late replacement who shocked the world in June when he fought back from an early knockdown and stopped Joshua in the seventh round, snapping up four heavyweight titles in the process.

The stunning win turned Ruiz—a doughy, baby-faced fighter begging to be underestimated—into a superstar overnight. The loss has reoriented Joshua's career arc. Suffer defeat against Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury? Sure, that's acceptable. This, however, wasn't part of the plan.

Ruiz is now out to prove he is more than a Buster Douglas, capable of defending the titles nobody thought he could win. Joshua is looking to avenge his first professional loss and show he can become one of the division's greats.

Billed as the "Clash on the Dunes," Saturday's bout will take place in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, a town on the outer edges of the country's capital city of Riyadh. The venue is the Diriyah Arena, a 15,000-seat stadium that was built in a matter of weeks specifically for this fight. 

The world will be watching. Here's how to tune in.

        

Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua 2 Fight Info

When: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 12 p.m. ET (main event roughly 3:45 p.m. ET, per DAZN)

Where: Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

TV: Sky Sports Box Office (UK, pay-per-view)

Live stream: DAZN (subscription required)

Odds: Joshua -200 (bet $200 to win $100), Ruiz Jr. +175 (bet $100 to win $175)

Odds are courtesy of Caesars and updated as of Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 a.m. ET.

       

Part of Ruiz's charm is how thoroughly he incinerated most people's expectations of the bout. He was only in the ring because the original contender, Jarrell Miller, failed multiple drug tests. There were some solid wins on his resume, but nothing spectacular. With his round figure and short-ish arms, he looked perfectly cast to serve as cannon fodder to the tall, handsome, impossibly-chiseled Joshua.

But then Ruiz started punching, and aside from a second-round knockdown, he was clearly the better boxer. Ruiz dropped Joshua four times before the referee decided the champion had had enough. The spell was broken.

Ruiz, 30, is a great counter-puncher, a long-time student of the sweet science with a good head on his shoulders. Joshua has torn through most of his opponents with breathtaking ease, but nothing in the buildup to this match suggests he is treating the loss as a fluke. The first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent is not going to be easy to beat.

"As soon I got back from New York, I didn't lose any heart, I didn't lose any fire in my belly, and I went straight back to hitting the heavy bag at Finchley ABC," Joshua said, per the Guardian's Sean Ingle. "There is no fear in my heart, no fear in my eyes, no fear in my mind."

Some observers, like TheFightCity.com's Lee Wylie, feel Joshua needs to take care of the basics to win back his belts:

Exactly. If AJ steps forward with the jab, he makes it easier for Ruiz to slip inside and throw the overhand. How does AJ nullify Ruiz’s looping counters? By throwing off his timing with feints, mixing up his jab, and by not allowing him to set his feet. https://t.co/uNzwPFeBor

— Lee Wylie (@leewylieboxing) December 1, 2019

It does seem like the 30-year-old Joshua is preparing for a difficult, careful night of boxing, slimming down and shedding some of the muscles in the hopes of improving his stamina. A well-executed strategy combined with his height and reach advantage should allow him to win rounds. Ruiz will likely to be looking to throw swift combinations again and try to get through the holes in Joshua's defense. If Joshua does get into trouble, he did show he has the strength to send Ruiz to the canvas. It's something that might get easier if the Englishman can extend the fight.

While Joshua has had to plenty to think about over the last six months, Ruiz has had the comfort of knowing he can win in Riyadh if he can essentially repeat his strategy and tactics from June in New York City. In the final press conference before the fight, Ruiz made his part sound rather simple.

"I know he lost weight, I know he's gonna try to box me around, but it's just my job to prevent that, you know. So I'm ready for whatever comes my way and I'm ready to rock n' roll," he said, per Bad Left Hook's Will Esco.

Ruiz has fine hand speed for a heavyweight and should still be able to land shots even if Joshua brings a more disciplined jab to the fight. A couple of the rounds in the first fight were cagey, and Ruiz didn't really start firing until Joshua sent him to the canvas. He might be equally comfortable in a chess match or a brawl against Joshua.

Ruiz will certainly be motivated, because his star can fall as quickly as it rose. Despite being an affable, friendly figure, he's not as easy to sell to the masses as the other big names in the division. Lose to Joshua badly, and he'll likely have to navigate a few difficult fights before getting another title shot. If he wins, or maybe comes up just short, Ruiz can stay in the championship circuit and go after the likes of Fury and Wilder.

He wasn't supposed to be in this position, but that's irrelevant now. Ruiz is the champion, and it's up to Joshua, the contender, to stop him.

Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury have been on a collision course ever since their thrilling first fight ended in a draw in December 2018. The heavyweights decided to each take two interim fights ahead of their rematch, reportedly penciled in for Feb. 22.

While Fury played it safe by lining up Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin (the latter turned out to be more difficult than anyone imagined), Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) is taking a significant risk with a rematch against Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 KOs) on Saturday in Las Vegas.

In their first bout back in March 2018, Ortiz came achingly close to stopping Wilder in a furious seventh round at the Barclay's Center in New York. The big Cuban was unable to close the deal, and Wilder bounced back by knocking out Ortiz with a vicious uppercut in the 10th frame.

Wilder must be confident he has Ortiz, a top-10 heavyweight, all figured out, because he's risking losing his WBC world title three months before a megafight with Fury, considered by many to be the division's lineal champion. A loss would greatly dampen the enthusiasm for that bout and might force promoters to reschedule it so Wilder can try to get his belt back.

Ortiz, 40, should be laser-focused for this fight. It likely represents his last chance to make history by becoming the first Cuban to win a heavyweight world title. 

Saturday's pay-per-view card also features Leo Santa Cruz taking on Miguel Flores for the vacant WBA super featherweight world title. Santa Cruz has long dominated the featherweight ranks and will now be making his debut at 130 pounds.

Here's how to watch.

     

Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz Fight Info

When: Saturday, Nov. 23, at 9 p.m. ET (main card)

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

TV: Sky Sports Action (UK), Fox Sports pay-per-view (US)

Live stream: Fox Sports (pay-per-view, $74.99 US)

Odds: Wilder -700 (bet $700 to win $100), Ortiz (bet $100 to win $500)

Odds are courtesy of Caesars and updated as of Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 a.m. ET.

       

There are plenty of reasons to expect Saturday's fight won't last a full 12 rounds. For one, both fighters insist they are going to end the night early. Wilder, well aware of how close he came to defeat in the first fight, seems intent on finishing off Ortiz as quickly as possible.

"He has to be perfect for 12 rounds. I only have to be perfect for two seconds and—bam, baby, good night," he said, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.

Wilder's right hand is the most lethal in the sport, a weapon so potent that the 34-year-old has been able to reach the pinnacle of the sport without having to develop a deep repertoire of combinations or perfect his technique.

A pawing jab followed by a right cross is elementary stuff, but that's all it takes with Wilder on most nights. His right hand detonated on Dominic Breazeale in the first round of their fight in May, sending the 6'7" colossus crumbling to the mat like a skyscraper mid-demolition. Wilder believes Ortiz won't be able to survive much longer.

It's a typical boast, but you get the sense Wilder is right; Ortiz does need to be perfect on Saturday. As a southpaw, Ortiz has to be careful about opening up lanes for the orthodox Wilder to send his right hand. His defense has to be impeccable while he looks to score points and go for the KO himself.

"This is not going 12 rounds," Ortiz told Rafael through an interpreter. "Either he knocks me out or I knock him out, and I wish there was no bell between rounds so we could just keep going."

Bermane Stiverne and Fury are the only two boxers to go a full 12 frames with Wilder. Fury managed to avoid Wilder's payoff punch until the last round, and a miraculous recovery from the knockdown allowed him to salvage a draw. Ortiz is much older and not nearly as slick defensively as Fury. It's unlikely he can avoid punishment for a full 36 minutes.

According to CBS Sports' Brian Campbell, Ortiz blames his loss to Wilder on bad cardio, which left him unable to finish the job when he had Wilder dazed in the seventh round. Campbell has noted Ortiz is now cutting a slimmer figure, hoping better stamina can propel him to victory this time around. However, being in better shape won't mean much if old age has quietly eroded his sharpness and reflexes. Every second Ortiz is in range of Wilder's right hands means he's in mortal danger, and a single mistake could land him in the hospital. 

Ortiz has won three fights since losing to Wilder, the most recent a 12-round, unanimous decision over Christian Hammer in March. He's done everything he can to set up a last shot at championship glory. Wilder is boxing's most dangerous puncher, and he has plenty riding on this match. Ortiz may have learned his lesson from the first fight, but if Wilder has answered his own riddles in the interim, he should be able to reach a similar outcome on Saturday.

Deontay Wilder will put his unbeaten record and WBC heavyweight championship on the line against Luis Ortiz on Nov. 23.

Per ESPN's Dan Rafael, the rematch between Wilder and Ortiz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was officially announced Saturday.

Their first matchup in March 2018 was a close back-and-forth battle that Wilder won by TKO in the 10th round. The Bronze Bomber overcame a slow start to finish with three knockdowns, including in the decisive round.

Per CompuBox Stats, Wilder had the advantage in total punches landed (98-87), but Ortiz landed more power punches (63-60) and was more accurate with them (43.4 to 38.7 percent).

During Saturday's official announcement, Wilder described Ortiz as the most difficult opponent he's gone up against:

"When I fought Ortiz, not only did he have the pedigree, but also he had the classification of being the boogeyman of the division. I agree with those who say that Luis Ortiz was my toughest fight to date. No one wanted to fight him and they still don't. In the rematch there's more confidence and more motivation to do what I have to do. I've already seen the style before. It's going to make it more fun. I can't wait to see how he tries to handle me when I'm at my best."

Ortiz called Wilder "the best heavyweight in the world until someone beats him" and said "this is the most dangerous fight for" the WBC champion.

King Kong has won his last three fights, including two by knockout, since losing to Wilder.

If Wilder is able to prevail against Ortiz for a second time, Rafael noted he will get a rematch with Tyson Fury currently scheduled for Feb. 22.

Tyson Fury has a plan, and it will inevitably involve getting punched in the face.

The former world heavyweight champion is facing a tune-up opponent in Otto Wallin (20-0, 13 KOs) on Saturday night in Las Vegas. While he maintains he's not looking past the undefeated Wallin, Fury (28-0-1, 20 KOs) has already mapped out his dream fight schedule for 2020. 

TalkSport.com's Michael Benson provided the details:

📋 Tyson Fury has named his dream four-fight plan to take him through to the end of 2020: [@BTSportBoxing]

📆 Sept 14th - Otto Wallin
📆 Feb 22nd - Deontay Wilder II
📆 June - Deontay Wilder III
📆 Dec - Andy Ruiz/Anthony Joshua

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) September 10, 2019

Fury is intent on getting back in the ring with Deontay Wilder after the two fought to a memorable draw in December 2018. In fact, he wants to face the Bronze Bomber twice, even though Wilder nearly handed him his first loss with a 12th-round knockdown that would have likely kept 99 out of 100 fighters stuck to the canvas.

It's the kind of ambition everyone likes to see out of the top fighters, especially in an era where so many dream matchups exist only in the imaginations of fight fans. 

For the dreams to come to fruition, Fury will have to take care of Wallin, his second-straight underwhelming opponent since facing Wilder. Earlier in the year, the 31-year-old made quick work of the dreadfully overmatched Tom Schwarz with a second-round TKO, though he did pack in plenty of entertainment in a short period of time.  

Fans tuning in on Saturday night will be hoping for a similar show to justify ponying up for what appears to be another mismatch.

        

Tyson Fury vs. Otto Wallin Fight Info

When: Saturday, Sep. 14 at 11 p.m. ET

Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

TV: BT Sports Box Office (UK, pay-per-view)

Live stream: ESPN+

Odds: Fury -2500 (bet $2,500 to win $100, Wallin +1100 (bet $100 to win $1,100)

Odds courtesy of Caesars and updated as of Thursday, Sep. 12 at 7 a.m. ET.

        

Fury might not necessarily be on top of the heavyweight boxing world—that distinction probably goes to Andy Ruiz Jr. or Wilder—but you wouldn't know it from the way he acts.

After a couple of years of struggling with mental illness, drugs and alcohol following his famous win over then-undisputed heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, Fury is clearly in a better place.

He's constantly clowning around, both on his own time and at his pre-fight press conferences. Fury could be seen cracking jokes and eliciting big smiles from Wallin just days before they are supposed to pummel each other with their fists. 

He's a big, rich man who makes his living in a nasty, brutal sport, but in interviews, he comes off as someone who is trying to stay on the narrow road to enlightenment.

Fury recently told BBC Sport's Luke Reddy he has found "happiness within himself" and is no longer looking for satisfaction in material things:

"I have really found out that happiness doesn't come from achievements or assets. It comes from within, with contentment of who you are. I can't be happier. If I had another 10 zeros on my bank balance it couldn't make me happier. I can only wear these shoes and sleep in one bed. You can only drive one car—if it's a Rolls Royce or piece of rubbish, they all do the same thing."

The fun-loving, peaceful demeanor is not an act, nor is it a sign Fury has lost his edge. He was just as silly in the buildup to the Schwarz fight, and he was utterly dominant. Fury has also credited his training with saving him, per Reddy, so the process of becoming one of the sport's top fighters is inextricably linked to his newfound happiness. 

When Fury is on his game, he's incredible to watch, with long, rubbery limbs, great head movement, tricky combinations and a flair for the dramatic.

This compilation from Boxing on BT Sport does a good job of showcasing how much fun Fury can be, even when he's on the defensive:

A man the size of Tyson Fury has no business moving that fast 🔥🤯 pic.twitter.com/UKiw0mRqPp

— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) September 9, 2019

The 6'9" behemoth with an 89-inch reach is going to be tough for Wallin, a 28-year-old from Sweden who hasn't fought anyone of note in his career and is fighting in the U.S. for just the second time.

His last bout was a no-contest against Nick Kisner in April. There's little to suggest Wallin is primed for an upset on Saturday, though Bloody Elbow's Fraser Coffeen noted his southpaw stance could give Fury something to think about:

"Fury doesn't have a tremendous amount of experience against southpaw fighters; in recent fights, Francesco Pianeta is the only one. Of course, Fury dominated him, but from a technical standpoint, you take what you can get if you're in the Wallin camp."

So maybe the southpaw strategy gives Fury one too many things to think about, and he eats a life-changing punch. That's what Wallin is hoping for here. He needs a distracted, unfocused Fury on Saturday night. Unfortunately for him, Fury appears plenty capable of flipping the switch when he needs to and buckling down on fight night. 

The hope here is that Fury can put on a show against another overmatched opponent on his way to picking up the victory—a necessary precursor to fighting Wilder in 2020. Then, Fury can settle his score with the most dangerous hitter in the sport, proving his claim to the lineal heavyweight title is more than self-promotion. That's a plan both Fury and boxing fans can be happy with.  

Mike Tyson is certainly enjoying his retirement.

Not only has the former boxer become an advocate for marijuana while hosting a podcast called Hot Boxin', but he also explained the extent of his marijuana use in the latest episode (h/t The Source).

"What do we smoke a month?" Tyson asked his co-host, Eben Britton. "Is it $40,000 a month? It's $40, yeah, $40,000 a month."

"We smoke 10 tons of weed at the ranch a month," Britton said.

Tyson broke ground on a 40-acre ranch earlier this year to both grow marijuana and research the effects of the drug. The new company said on its website that it aims to create "Better Cannabis" for its customers.

However, it appears Tyson is getting high on his own supply.

It's unknown how many people are joining in on these sessions at his ranch, but $40,000 per month is still a lot of money to spend on marijuana. It's also a questionable use of money considering the 53-year-old has already gone bankrupt once despite earning $300 million in his boxing career.

Still, Tyson appears to be fully immersed in his new business.

Former heavyweight champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko has been rescued from a burning yacht off the coast of Mallorca, Spain. 

The Ukrainian revealed the news via his official Twitter account after being rescued in the early hours of Monday morning:

Be careful what you wish for: fate took my wish for “some #adrenalin” a bit too literally and our boat-trip Sunday night ended up in our boat #igniting and family & friends being evacuated by coast guard and fire rescue-team. No worries: we are all fine! #theroofisonfire #song😱 pic.twitter.com/sGN7xfG5JM

— Klitschko (@Klitschko) June 25, 2019

The 43-year-old was aboard the luxury yacht while holidaying in the Mediterranean.

Klitschko has been retired since his 11th-round knockout by Anthony Joshua in 2017, which put his record at 64-5.

That fight was his first since his defeat to Tyson Fury in 2015, in which he lost his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring and lineal heavyweight titles.

In 2014, American boxer Shannon Briggs (60-6-1) knocked Klitschko into the water in Hollywood, Florida, after pursuing him in a boat while the latter was paddleboarding (warning: contains profanity):

According to BBC Sport, Briggs was hoping for a title fight with Klitschko, but the pair never faced one another in the ring.

The 47-year-old did face the champion's brother, Vitali Klitschko, in 2010, which was the sixth and final defeat of Briggs' career.

Tyson Fury defeated Tom Schwarz in their lineal heavyweight championship fight Saturday night in Las Vegas, and then he serenaded his wife Paris in the ring.

The 30-year-old's song of choice was Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing":

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1140112340135710720

Fury's victory came by way of second-round TKO, which put him in a much better mood post-fight than his controversial draw against Deontay Wilder in December.

Following his 20th career knockout, Fury confirmed a rematch with Wilder sometime next year.

🗣 Post fight interview with the one and only @tyson_fury and his thoughts what's to come with @BronzeBomber 🗣#FurySchwarz pic.twitter.com/eMbCAjPX47

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 16, 2019

Fury holds a 28-0-1 career record.

Tyson Fury is the man to beat in the heavyweight division, depending on who you ask. Though he doesn't have a belt to his name, some boxing observers consider Fury (27-0-1, 19 KOs) the lineal heavyweight champion. He beat the previous undisputed champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, and he hasn't lost since.

In fact, Fury hasn't lost ever as a professional, and he will be looking to preserve his undefeated record and lineal champion status on Saturday night when he takes on the undefeated Tom Schwarz (24-0, 16 KOs) in Las Vegas. 

Lineal is a murky concept. Fury beat Klitschko more than three years ago, but his life went into a tailspin that he only pulled out of last year.

In that time, Deontay Wilder continued his rise to prominence with a series of beatings, and Anthony Joshua clipped Klitschko himself to win three world titles and become one of the biggest stars on the planet.

The last few months have bolstered Fury's claims that he's the alpha in the heavyweight ranks. He fought Wilder to an incredible draw in December, becoming one of just two men to make it to the final bell against Wilder's sledgehammer right hand (and doing it in instantly memorable fashion). Earlier in June, Joshua lost his belts in a stunning upset to Andy Ruiz Jr.

So Fury has a tenuous claim to the heavyweight throne; all he's lacking is the hardware to prove it. The risks are bigger without the world titles, as a loss to the unbeaten Schwarz would be a huge blow to his drawing power. It's not expected, but as Ruiz Jr. showed on Jun. 1, it's not impossible. 

         

Fury vs. Schwarz Fight Info

When: Saturday, Jun. 15 at 10 p.m. ET (main card)

Where: MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

TV: BT Sport Box Office (pay-per-view, UK)

Live Stream: ESPN+ (subscription required), BT Sport Box Office app (UK)

Odds: Fury -2500 (bet $2,500 to win $100), Schwarz +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200)

Odds courtesy of OddsChecker.com and updated as of Thursday, Jun. 6 at 7 a.m. ET.

     

In the ring or outside of it, the 30-year-old Fury sets himself apart. Unlike many heavyweights, Fury likes to dance, bob his head, stick the jab and move around the ring. He can brawl and get dirty if he has to, but it's not his preferred way to fight.

At 6'9" with an 85-inch reach, Fury can look a little silly with his gangly limbs gyrating around the ring, at least until you realize his opponent is having trouble finding the target. 

Boxing is all about hitting and not getting hit 🥊

Tyson Fury is a master of the sweet sciences 🔥 #FurySchwarz pic.twitter.com/BnXkNrxukK

— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) June 9, 2019

He's even tougher to pin down outside of the ring. Fury has emerged from his mental health troubles of the past couple of years and seems to be trying to put some distance between his homophobic and bigoted remarks of the past.

Though his previous comments will still be unforgivable to many, he now espouses a much more positive worldview, and he can be disarming at times.

Just look at him at the last photoshoot before Saturday night, per BT Sport:

Never change, @Tyson_Fury 😂pic.twitter.com/y0xXtZGzcU

— TNT Sports (@tntsports) June 12, 2019

You would think he and Schwarz are starring in a buddy-cop movie. Instead, they are going to be fighting each other on Saturday night, with their unbeaten records on the line. 

Perfect records are not made equal in this sport. Fury has won world titles, beaten the likes of Klitschko, Christian Hammer and Dereck Chisora (twice). He also largely outboxed Wilder in their draw and would have won it had he not suffered a second knockdown in the 12th round. He's faced some excellent pros, though not many.

Schwarz, 25, hasn't fought anyone of note. His bouts have come almost exclusively in his native Germany, save for two fights in the Czech Republic. He's won and defended regional and inter-continental titles, proving he can hold his own against journeymen. The bout with Fury is a massive step up in competition, and an upset win would be a springboard to so much more.

"If I win, I have another life," Schwarz said via a translator, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael. "I am a fighter with a big heart. I am a fighter with good skills, and because of this, I am the best opponent for Fury."

Schwarz will have to rise to another level to beat Fury. At 6'5½", he gives up plenty of size to the self-styled "Gypsy King." Fury's quick hands are that much more difficult to contend with if you need to stay in range to establish an attack. 

Does Schwarz have what it takes? Not according to Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ:

"But if you want to see what Schwarz has in the ring, there's footage out there. Most damningly, his April 2018 DQ win over Senad Gashi shows a fighter who should be absolutely no problem for Fury, an ugly mess of a fight. There's nothing you can find on Tom Schwarz that suggests he's a challenge for Tyson Fury."

Fury's fights can be frustrating at times because his style proves so challenging to the heavies. Whatever cypher he chooses on Saturday night should prove difficult for Schwarz to crack.

There's freedom to his boxing, when he's in the right mindset. Or, as he told Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole, "I feel like a dolphin in the sea while I'm in that boxing ring. That is my home."

So look for Fury to box and move, box and move, and eventually go all in on Schwarz. Showing some menace on Saturday night would be a good look as he sets a course for a rematch with Wilder, which could happen in early 2020. 

Fury might squeeze in another fight in the interim, as Wilder is set to face Luis Ortiz in what could prove to be a tricky rematch bout.

If all goes according to plan for the Gypsy King, Fury will have a chance to market himself as a world champion again, and not just a lineal one. 

Prediction: Fury TKO in 8th

In an E:60 interview with Jeremy Schaap, heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury said that he prayed to God to kill him after defeating Wladimir Klitschko for the unified title.

"It doesn't get any darker than not wanting to live," Fury said (h/t Khadrice Rollins of Sports Illustrated). "That's as dark as it can go I suppose. And that's where I was at in my life. I prayed to God to kill me. I'd wake up in the morning and I'd say, 'Why did I wake up again? Why am I back in this place I don't want to be?'"

He explained he was "very unwell" and that it didn't matter he had family or success in the ring.

Fury defeated Klitschko in November 2015 to win the IBF, IBA, WBO and WBC titles, but he either vacated or was stripped of them in the months that followed. He tested positive for cocaine and reportedly weighed up to 400 pounds during an absence that lasted almost three years before returning to the ring in 2018.

"Nobody will ever really know how far I came back, apart from my immediate family," he added.

The boxer won his first two matches upon his return, improving his career record to 27-0 before earning a draw against Deontay Wilder last December. He is now set to face Tom Schwarz on Saturday.

Andy Ruiz Jr. spoiled the United States debut of British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua with a seventh-round technical knockout at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

Fans were none too pleased, booing English boxing promoter Eddie Hearn. However, through the boos, Hearn said during his interview that Joshua will have a chance at revenge in November or December in his native U.K., according to ESPN's Ariel Helwani.

With the victory, Ruiz Jr. takes control of Joshua's WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles. The Mexican American California native only had five weeks' notice ahead of this fight as a replacement for Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller.

According to CBSSports.com's Jack Crosby, Ruiz wasn't even Hearn's preferred choice to replace Miller:

"Following the removal of Miller, promoter Eddie Hearn had his eyes on former WBC championship challenger Luis Ortiz to step in as Joshua's new foe. Hearn was so enamored with the thought of Ortiz—who had put on a respectable performance against WBC champ Deontay Wilder in a March 2018 title fight—that he reportedly offered Ortiz the largest payout of his career to play foil to Joshua on short notice.

"Ortiz and his team turned down the offer, however, with another potential big payday ahead for a rematch with Wilder."

Following his shocking knockout of Joshua to become the first Mexican American heavyweight champion, Ruiz saved one more jab for Hearn:

@EddieHearn who is next??

— AndyRuizJr (@Andy_destroyer1) June 2, 2019

Joshua was graceful in defeat, putting his arm around his opponent and calling for a round of applause for Ruiz. "Big, big respect," Joshua said.

Humble In Defeat 👏

Nothing but class from Anthony Joshua following #JoshuaRuiz ✊ pic.twitter.com/5cRlQru67o

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 2, 2019

The 29-year-old added, "We'll be seeing you again." And he meant it, as he told Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix he will "100 percent" exercise his rematch clause (h/t Helwani).