After Joshua’s shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr. back in June, the pair are set to rematch on December 7th in Saudi Arabia, with the Brit hoping to prove his worth at the second attempt. Having been 33/1 to win the first fight in New York, Ruiz Jr. shook the world of boxing as the referee was forced to stop the fight in the seventh round and hand the victory to the complete underdog.
It has been reported by many journalists that Joshua should have not stepped into the ring with Ruiz, having been knocked out in sparring the day before the big fight. This could be a huge factor as to why Joshua is so keen to put that fight behind him and prove why he was such a strong favourite in New York. Looking at the boxing betting, Joshua will once again be favourite to win the fight. But this time around, he will be 4/11 – quite a difference from his opening odds of 1/33 back in June.
Ruiz Jr., who clearly got the better of Joshua in New York and remains undefeated, provides some value at 11/5. Ruiz has yet to lose a professional fight, and clearly cannot be underestimated after putting Joshua down not once, but twice, back in June. If you feel as though Ruiz can do the business again in round seven, there’s plenty of value, with odds of 28/1 available. It is also worth noting Joshua’s last two fights prior to stepping into the ring with Ruiz Jr. have both gone the distance, which is priced at 11/4.
Deontay Wilder, who is yet to fight either Joshua or Ruiz Jr., hasn’t been quiet about his prediction and has voiced his opinion on the outcome. The American, who drew with Tyson Fury, claims Joshua will once again be defeated by the Mexican, potentially ending his career. If Joshua proves Wilder wrong, it will be interesting to see if the Brit calls him out in the post-fight interview – something boxing fans clearly want to see.
With Ruiz Jr. having more time to prepare and focus on this fight, rather than merely being a late replacement, should provide him with a solid opportunity to defeat the Brit for a second time. One thing for sure is this is a bigger fight for Joshua than it is Ruiz Jr. This is mainly due to the fact it could be Joshua’s last fight at the top level if he is unable to defeat the Mexican at the second attempt.
If the Brit can come through this fight, it will be interesting to see if Wilder or Tyson Fury are called upon as his next opponent. It’s fair to say, plenty of boxing fans would love to see Joshua face Wilder or Fury, and so a win for the Brit in Saudi Arabia could be huge for the sport.
