Oleksandr Usyk’s comments about whether he’d rather fight Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr have stood the test of time as the latter’s career has spiralled
Oleksandr Usyk’s comments about whether he’d rather fight Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr have stood the test of time as the latter’s career has spiralled
In 2019, Oleksandr Usyk made a bold declaration regarding his future opponents in the heavyweight division, asserting that a fight against Anthony Joshua would be significantly tougher than a bout with Andy Ruiz Jr. At the time, Usyk’s comments seemed somewhat contentious, given that Ruiz had just pulled off a stunning upset over Joshua, capturing the IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles with a TKO victory.
Fast forward to 2024, and it appears that Usyk’s assessment was remarkably prescient. Usyk, now a universally recognized heavyweight champion, proved his mettle by securing an undisputed heavyweight title in May 2024. This accomplishment came after a rigorous 12-round bout with Tyson Fury, which concluded with Usyk earning a split-decision victory. With this win, Usyk added the WBC heavyweight belt to his already impressive collection of IBF, WBO, and IBO titles, solidifying his status as the premier heavyweight champion with a flawless professional record of 22-0.
Reflecting on Usyk’s foresight, it’s clear that his perspective on Joshua and Ruiz was not only insightful but correct. In July 2019, shortly after Usyk had achieved a knockout victory over Tony Bellew and was holding a perfect 16-0 record, he was asked by Sky Sports to choose between a future fight with Anthony Joshua or Andy Ruiz Jr. Usyk did not hesitate in naming Joshua as the more formidable opponent. His prediction seemed bold at the time, especially given Ruiz’s recent dramatic win over Joshua.
Joshua’s career trajectory post-2019 has been somewhat turbulent yet resilient. After losing to Ruiz, Joshua managed to reclaim his titles through a decisive unanimous decision victory over Ruiz in December 2019. This win reinstated his place at the top of the heavyweight division. Joshua followed up this success with a knockout victory over Kubrat Pulev in December 2020 and then went on to secure victories in a series of fights against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, and Francis Ngannou. These victories, including a victory over Ngannou, helped Joshua regain his form and set the stage for a title bout with Daniel Dubois scheduled for next month, where he will fight for the IBF heavyweight strap.
In contrast, Andy Ruiz Jr.’s career has faced significant setbacks. After his loss to Joshua in their December 2019 rematch, Ruiz struggled to regain his former prominence. Although he managed to secure victories over Chris Arreola in 2021 and Luis Ortiz in 2022, his overall performance in recent years has been lackluster. Ruiz Jr.’s inactivity, with only three fights since his 2019 loss to Joshua, coupled with a disappointing draw against Jarrell Miller on August 4, 2024, has cast doubt on his ability to compete at the highest level. Despite showing strong performance in the early rounds of the fight with Miller, Ruiz Jr. could not maintain his momentum, leading to a majority draw with Miller, who managed to gain control in the latter stages of the bout.
As a result of these developments, Ruiz Jr.’s prospects in the heavyweight division appear dim, and he faces a challenging road to reclaiming a title shot. At 34 years old and with recent performances failing to live up to the expectations of fans and analysts alike, Ruiz Jr.’s future in the upper echelons of the sport is now uncertain.
In retrospect, Usyk’s early prediction about Joshua being a more formidable opponent than Ruiz Jr. has proven accurate. While Joshua has shown resilience and adaptability, continuing to secure victories and maintain his position among the elite heavyweights, Ruiz Jr.’s career has struggled to regain its former luster. Usyk’s clear-eyed assessment of the heavyweight landscape in 2019 stands as a testament to his keen understanding of the sport and the evolving dynamics of the heavyweight division.
