Joshua’s physical advantages in height (four inches) and reach (eight) appeared even more ominous under the glare of the Garden lights as the chiseled 6ft 6in, 247lb champion spent the opening round fighting off the back foot while the challenger moved forward in pursuit. Talking about the Mexican fighting style, I just proved it.” “It’s because of the Mexican warrior I am,” said Ruiz, an Imperial Valley native and resident who spent time growing up in the border town of Mexicali and represented Mexico at the 2008 Olympic trials. Ruiz (33-1, 22 KOs), who was only even in a position for the life-changing upset because Joshua’s original opponent, Brooklyn’s Jarrell Miller, failed three tests for different performance-enhancing drugs shortly after the match-up was announced, became the first fighter of Mexican descent to win a heavyweight title in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. I can’t believe I just made my dreams come true.” This is what I have been working hard for. “This is what I have been dreaming about. “I just feel so good, man,” said an elated Ruiz, who captured Joshua’s WBA, WBO and IBF belts in a stunner that ranks alongside Buster Douglas v Mike Tyson and James Braddock v Max Baer among the most seismic in the division’s centuries-spanning annals. Joshua was outboxed, out-toughed and beaten up on a night that turned boxing’s bellwether weight class on its ear. No lucky one-punch knockout that can be explained away by a silver-tongued promoter.
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