Andy Ruiz Jr. pulled off the upset of the year back in June, when he dropped Anthony Joshua four times to secure a seventh-round stoppage to capture the WBO, IBF, and WBA heavyweight titles at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Joshua quickly exercised an immediate rematch clause, to get the opportunity to reclaim his world titles. The rematch is scheduled for December 7th, in Saudi Arabia.
Should Joshua lose for a second time in a row, his career would certainly be a the crossroads.
Ruiz believes Joshua, should he lose again, take a break away from the sport.
“I think he should take a little break if I beat him,” Ruiz Jr told Sky Sports.
“Let him recuperate, but one or two losses are not going to make a difference. He’s still a warrior, he’s still a great fighter, and I’m sure he’ll bounce back.”
Joshua recently stated in several interviews, that he now views Ruiz at the best fighter in the world.
“It means a lot,” Ruiz said. “He said that because I defeated him. He was the greatest heavyweight champion of the world. He had all the belts and now I do, so it’s a big blessing to be in this position.”
Ruiz, should he win, would put himself in a position for a full division unification with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Both Wilder and Ruiz are promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions banner. Wilder of course is facing Luis Ortiz in a rematch next month at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. And if Wilder wins, he would then move forward with a potential rematch with Tyson Fury on a date in June.
–boxingscene.com
