Andy Ruiz’s Victory Over Anthony Joshua Remains One of Boxing’s Great Upsets

When boxing fans think of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport nearly everyone’s mind lands on just a small handful of events. The 2019 match between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz is by far one of the most commonly cited matches, not just because it is so recent but because of the unpredictable result of the matchup. 

There are many reasons why this match is considered one of, if not the single greatest upset in boxing history. To understand why Ruiz was considered such a huge underdog requires understanding the full context of the hype that was building up towards this match.

Revisiting Anthony Joshua vs. John Ruiz

The Betting Odds Were in Joshua’s Favour

Like any major boxing event, the betting situation in June of 2019 was rather chaotic. With a variety of types of bets available to be made, thousands upon thousands of fans put their money where their mouth was. Whether that was for Joshua to get a KO, win by unanimous decision or even win by split decision. Few believed that Ruiz could pull off the unthinkable. 

With 25-1 odds favouring the British fighter, it seemed like a way for even casual fans of the sport to make a quick buck. The betting odds also acted as a signal to fans before the match even started that Joshua’s presumed victory was in the bag. 

With betting odds implying a nearly 97% chance of victory, it’s easy to see how Ruiz coming out on top instead caused a massive stir, further cementing this match as arguably the sport’s greatest upset of all time.

Joshua’s Perfect Record

One of the most important factors that defines any athlete’s stature is their record, and AJ had a flawless record in 2019. Entering the fight at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York against Ruiz with a record of 22 wins and zero losses, it was one of the biggest factors before the match to justify the hype that Joshua had been building up.

Though Ruiz had a solid record himself, he didn’t have an undefeated reputation. Plus, he had lost some matches just before the Joshua fight, so fans had even more reason to plan on Joshua taking home the victory. Then, again, we saw Muhammad Ali losses, like Leon Spinks in 1978 and Mike Tyson losses, like Buster Douglas in 1990 which are also hard to explain.

There aren’t many times in boxing history when an undefeated contender is expected to lose an upcoming match, and Joshua was no exception. With his exceptional track record and rising momentum, it’s not hard to see why nearly everyone expected Joshua to take home an easy victory.

Joshua’s Aggressive Personality and Demeanor

Though public personas can’t often be used as a reliable determining factor for how things play out in a match, they certainly are great at boosting hype among a fanbase. This is exactly what fans of Joshua were doing in the weeks leading up to the fight.

AJ is known for being a good sport, who respects his opponents outside the boxing ring, but he also has a very fierce and dedicated demeanour. Whenever he was interviewed before upcoming fights, he spoke with such a high degree of confidence that it was infectious. That determination and self-dedication made him a fan favourite, and it played a huge role in the reasoning behind his projected victory for the 2019 Ruiz bout.

There was almost an immediate transfer of this fame and hype from Joshua over to Ruiz once the seventh and final round of this match concluded. There was such an unexpected burst of glory and fame that Ruiz himself struggled to keep up with it in the aftermath.

The Mexican/American had attracted such a huge number of fans on the night of the fight that even a year after the victory, people were constantly asking about his status and whereabouts. 

Ruiz Had Already Lost to Parker

As the Brit was riding the high of an undefeated track record that included 21 knockout wins and had a reputation as a fierce and dominating opponent, Ruiz was dealing with less-than-stellar optics. Before the fight with Joshua, he was coming off of a loss from another undefeated champion a couple of years prior with Joseph Parker.

Despite it being the only loss on his record, fans and commentators used it as a common reason why Ruiz would lose against Joshua. Only having one loss is impressive, but it pales in comparison to a spotless record, or so the reasoning was.

Ruiz Wasn’t in Excellent Shape

Though being in good shape is a broader and more fluid concept than some people realise, it’s a fair point to be made when discussing the logistics of a championship match. Joshua was 6 ft 6 in and weighed 237 pounds, whereas Ruiz was 6 ft 2 in and weighed 284 lbs. Ruiz was by no means out of shape in any general sense of the term, but he did look noticeably pudgy when standing side by side with the Watford native.

You can’t always rely on appearances, but appearances mean a lot when it comes to hype, projected outcomes and the bets made by the fans. Clearly, you can’t always judge a book by its cover.

Ruiz Was a Last-Minute Replacement Opponent for Miller

Perhaps the most reasonable cause behind the predictions of Ruiz losing was that he was not originally meant to fight Joshua. Jarrell Miller was the original slated opponent for the Brit, but he was taken off the ticket roughly a month before the match. He tested positive for several performance-enhancing drugs and substances, most notably human growth hormone (HGH), one of the most notorious non-steroid-based drugs that athletes have used for doping and cheating.

Ruiz passed all his drug tests and was cleared to face off against Joshua. However, he was perceived as being a runner-up and not as much of a challenge. Little did anyone know that just a few short weeks later, this quick decision to change opponents would alter boxing history forever.

However, Ruiz vs Joshua 2 was a different story. In their rematch, Joshua used his reach advantage and stayed away from Ruiz’s devastating hooks to out-point him and win back his title with ease.