Andy Ruiz, Anthony Joshua discuss potential rematch

Over the weekend, we witnessed one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, as the unheralded Andy Ruiz stopped the surging Anthony Joshua to become the unified heavyweight champion.

Given the scale of this upset, there’s already been rampant talk of an immediate rematch between the two pugilists.

Speaking to The Guardian post-fight, however, Anthony Joshua admitted that he was so confident in a victory that he didn’t ask for a rematch clause to be written into the fight contract. The former champ couldn’t confirm if his management had the foresight to negotiate this detail.

“I didn’t even ask about a rematch clause because I was so confident I was going to win,” he said. “If it’s there, we’ll go again and I’ll get the titles back. I’m going to beat him up. I’m not dwelling on it. You just correct it, you adjust, you sit down, you focus and you go again.”

The good news for Joshua is that the new champion Andy Ruiz seems completely open to a do-over.

“Of course,” Ruiz said of the possibility, grinning ear to ear.

While Anthony Joshua wasn’t initially sure if there was a rematch clause written in his contract for this fight, his promoter Eddie Hearn assures that the former champion will get the chance to avenge this loss — on home soil later this year.

“Listen, tonight was [Ruiz’s] night but AJ will come back 100% and we will make the rematch in the UK in November or December,” he said (via Bloody Elbow). “But this night now belongs to Andy Ruiz.

“AJ has the heart of a lion and will come back stronger. Now at least we know the opponent for the end of the year in the UK. Absolutely we will enact the immediate rematch. He will be devastated when it sinks in. It makes the fall fight a must-win.”

How do you think a rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz will go?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 6/3/2019.