Sadly for most fans, as it appears, the much-vaunted contest between Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte might not see the light of day, with the latter failing the drug test. Matchroom announced the match had been canceled. It must have broken many hearts. However, there seems to be a light glimmering at the end of the tunnel. As it goes, another former rival of Joshua, Andy Ruiz Jr., went online, offering a solution to the conundrum.

A rivalry that began during its amateur days saw its first episode, in a professional sense, featured on December 12, 2015. The day belonged to Anthony Joshua, who knocked out Dillian Whyte to become the British Heavyweight champion. Hence, a rematch appeared logical. More so, Matchroom promotes both fighters. Though much water has flown down the Thames, a rematch on August 12 raised the excitement level.

Let’s dance a last time; Andy Ruiz Jr. thunders across the Atlantic shore

Nonetheless, Andy Ruiz Jr. must have thanked the skies as he tries to find an opening for a third match with Anthony Joshua. Fight Hub and Michael Benson shared a video of Ruiz Jr. calling out Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn. He said, “Eddie Hearn, Joshua, I think I found a new replacement again. Let’s run it back. Let’s get the trilogy. Let’s get it.” As most fans might remember, in 2019, both ‘The Destroyer’ and ‘AJ’ seesawed across continents, participating in two closely fought matches. 

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It’s been almost a year since Ruiz Jr. saw the face of a ring. In September last year, he fought two-time challenger Luis Ortiz to score a unanimous win. In the new year, he interestingly brought news of ‘The Destroyer’ facing reigning Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. However, financial constraints broke the back of the fight at the negotiation table. He hopes for a round-up with Deontay Wilder by this year’s end.

A rivalry crafted in a year

Joshua and Ruiz Jr. first met at New York’s Madison Square Garden on June 1. The Mexican-American turned the tables in the seventh round, defeating the Briton, then Heavyweight champion. However, the happiness lasted barely six months. Anthony Joshua returned with a vengeance to regain his lost belts at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia on December 7. ‘AJ,’ after the back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, made a comeback of sorts with a unanimous win over Jermaine Franklin on April 1.

Andy Ruiz Jr., on the other hand, after staying out of the ring for an entire year, returned in 2021 and won the next two fights, probably laying the foundations for the next move. Now he has moved the pawn. How it’s viewed in Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua’s court remains to be seen. It remains unclear whether they have come across Andy Ruiz Jr.’s poser. Hence, only time will tell how the new developments will forge ahead.

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Do you think Joshua should accept Ruiz Jr.’s challenge for the third match? Please share your thoughts and views with us in the comments below.

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