Why Andy Ruiz Jr vs Anthony Joshua 3 Never Happened?

Published 12/18/2020, 1:45 PM EST

On 1st June 2019, the world of Boxing got a massive shock. The sport’s biggest superstar Anthony Joshua was defeated for the first time in his professional career.

A relatively unknown Mexican fighter, Andy Ruiz Jr, knocked out the British superstar and claimed his 4 heavyweight championships.

They were then slated to lock horns on Dec 7th in the same year. Joshua managed to put a boxing clinic on Ruiz for 12 rounds and reclaimed his throne.

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With the score set on 1-1 between them, a rubber match looks like a must-do situation. But that never happened due to certain reasons.

Andy Ruiz Jr. is not the most disciplined Boxer, to say the least. He parties often and is often out of shape. He weighed in at 268 pounds for the first contest. And came in 15 lbs heavier in the second one. Ruiz claimed his partying and diet were the reasons for such an increased weight.

Andy Ruiz says “I’d like to say the three months of partying didn’t affect me, but it did. … I think the partying and all this stuff got the best of me.” He apologized you trainer Manny Robles, who hasn’t changed his expression #RuizJoshua2 pic.twitter.com/7IfHZpnIqE
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) December 7, 2019

Subsequently, his performance was affected. He could barely get into range to touch AJ in the second fight. He got schooled for 12 rounds.

What was more unprofessional on his part, that he took the mike away from Joshua, while he was enjoying his moment in the post-fight interview, and called for a third fight.

But as a champion coming into his first defense against a superstar like Joshua, Ruiz had to show more professionalism and should have come in a better shape than the first fight. Instead, he did the complete opposite.

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What’s next for Andy Ruiz Jr.?

Ruiz was scheduled for a comeback in late 2020. However, that fell through. No surprise, the Mexican believes he deserves a third fight against AJ. But his performance in the second fight hindered those chances.

If he can get back committed showing his work ethic and racking up a couple of impressive wins, he can’t be denied that opportunity. There is no doubt about his skills. His record is a testament to the trove of talent he carries. But it’s his discipline that lets him down.

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Do you want to see Andy Ruiz Jr. vs Anthony Joshua 3 down the line? Who should Ruiz fight upon his return?

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Written by:

Apratim Banerjee is an MMA author for EssentiallySports and has been writing professionally for almost a year. Before his current gig, Apratim worked as a UFC writer for Sportskeeda. A long-time MMA fan, Apratim has developed a critical eye for the sport that has helped him transfer his vast knowledge to his copies and give hardcore and casual readers a detailed insight into the fights and fighters.

Why Andy Ruiz Jr vs Anthony Joshua 3 Never Happened?

What’s next for Andy Ruiz Jr.?

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