Photo by Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images<\/small><\/p>\n
Anthony Joshua can’t erase his June loss to Andy Ruiz Jr, but he did about as much as he could in that respect on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Anthony Joshua regained the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, dominating Andy Ruiz Jr over 12 rounds in their huge rematch<\/a>, evening the score with the Mexican-American who upset him just six months ago in far more dramatic fashion.<\/p>\n Joshua (23-1, 21 KO) wasn’t as explosive or exciting as he was on his way up in the sport, but his tactics — and the plan by Rob McCracken and the rest of Joshua’s team — have largely been praised by those in the sport, as he stayed level-headed throughout and never let Ruiz (33-2, 22 KO) really get into the fight at all.<\/p>\n Twitter was, of course, lit up before, during, and after the bout, and a lot of top pros had plenty to say once the dust has settled.<\/p>\n Here’s a compilation of those thoughts from the likes of Josh Taylor, Shakur Stevenson, Julian Williams, Jamel Herring, Luke Campbell, and many more:<\/p>\n Fair play to AJ for getting his shi changed up and getting the tactics spot on. That being said, I still think he’s been on his bike a little too much still looks really vulnerable. Boring fight, but fair play<\/p>\n — Josh Taylor (@JoshTaylorBoxer) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Hats off to big AJ, changed up his camp and changed what he had to, but still on that performance I don’t see him surviving 12 with wilder or out boxing fury in my opinion<\/p>\n — Josh Taylor (@JoshTaylorBoxer) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Very smart boxing from Joshua! Congratulations @anthonyfjoshua<\/a> #2time<\/a> <\/p>\n — Badou Jack (@BadouJack) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Ruiz looked more sharper and obviously fit, when he fought Joshua the first time, on a LATE notice. Credit to Joshua for fighting smart.#RuizJoshua2<\/a><\/p>\n — Jamel Herring (@JamelHerring) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Boxing at its finest for AJ<\/p>\n — Tony Harrison (@Iamboxing) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n 2Xxxxxxxxxx that’s how you do it @anthonyfjoshua<\/a> ! And the new!<\/p>\n — ClaressaT-rexShields (@Claressashields) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Beautiful display of boxing. What true champions are made of… taking defeat & coming back bigger & stronger or in this case ‘smaller’ & stronger. Congratulations brother. Now it’s my turn.<\/p>\n — Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Anthony joshua rob mccracken take a bow <\/p>\n — Gamal Yafai (@Gamal_yafai) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Good fight AJ way to make dude EASY WORK <\/p>\n — Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Y’all mad at Joshua but Ruiz ain’t throw no punches <\/p>\n — Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Boxed beautifully smashed it my brother @anthonyfjoshua<\/a> <\/p>\n — Joe Cordina OLY (@JoeCordina_91) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n I was worried about the big man tonight but I’ve got to give it to him…<\/p>\n Good feet, sharp reactions, great jab… Very disciplined display! <\/p>\n — Scotty Cardle (@ScottyCardle) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Boxing lesson. Great performance for Joshua <\/p>\n — Liam Smith (@LiamBeefySmith) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Hope McCracken gets his applause now, got slaughtered after the first fight. <\/p>\n — Liam Smith (@LiamBeefySmith) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Light work. AJ & McCracken’s tactics spot on.<\/p>\n — Frank Buglioni (@FrankBuglioni) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Joshua needed to implement a stiff fast consistent jab, great footwork and hardest of all, patience. All of that in 5 months all credit in the world to him tonight was make or break for him and he performed unbelievably well done to that man <\/p>\n — David Allen (@davidthewhiter1) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Well done to AJ regaining his titles and sticking with the same team when everyone told him change etc… frustrating night for Ruiz and boring fight to watch tbh #RuizJoshua<\/a> <\/p>\n Roll on Jan 11th #MungiaOSullivan<\/a> #WAR<\/a> <\/p>\n — Gary Spike OSullivan (@spike_osullivan) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Told you so mother fuckers. @anthonyfjoshua<\/a> easy work<\/p>\n — jono carroll (@jono_carroll) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n 10-2 at the absolute worst. Might as well be 12-0. Disappointing performance by Ruiz. #RuizJoshua<\/a> #boxing<\/a><\/p>\n — caleb truax (@GoldenCalebT) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n “I didn’t prepare how I should have and I gained too much weight, but I dont want to make no excuses.”<\/p>\n Literally the 2 most despicable excuses in boxing you can make. #RuizJoshua2<\/a> #boxing<\/a><\/p>\n — caleb truax (@GoldenCalebT) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Are you disappointed in Ruiz or impressed by Aj,for me the latter didn’t think he could keep it up and change style but he did massive credit should go to rob mckraken for getting him in that shape <\/p>\n — Enzo Maccarinelli (@theRealEnzoMac) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n It wasn’t the most entertaining way but AJ got the job done tonight. Fought a smart fight. I wish Ruiz would of let his hands go more. #RuizJoshua2<\/a><\/p>\n — Luis Angel Feliciano (@Luis_Feliciano) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n He’s back on top! #ajruiz2<\/a><\/p>\n — Richard Riakporhe (@R_Riakporhe) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Punch perfect performance @anthonyfjoshua<\/a> #AndTheNewwwww<\/a> <\/p>\n — Thomas Stalker (@ThomasStalker1) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Fantastic controlled performance from AJ, fair play to him proved a lot of people wrong tonight including myself. So much pressure on him to perform and he did, can’t help but admire that #RuizJoshua2<\/a><\/p>\n — Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Great boxing from AJ but that ref was not trying to let them fight inside<\/p>\n — SFJ (@coolboysteph) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Very disciplined and dominant performance from Anthony Joshua — Paul Smith (@PaulSmithJnr) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Well done @anthonyfjoshua<\/a> smashed it #RuizJoshua2<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BFhiaxRL95<\/a><\/p>\n — Nicola Adams (@NicolaAdamsOBE) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n And the new! Huge congrats @anthonyfjoshua<\/a> on the win tonight! Buzzing for you! 2x <\/p>\n — Hannah Rankin (@Team_Rankin) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Don’t think the weight was worth it, looked a little slower on his feet. Trainer supposedly ask him to report in Iuly, he didn’t until September. He’s set for life if he plays his cards right. But disappointing performance under the circumstances. He will get more fights tho<\/p>\n — Ishé Oluwa Kamau Ali Smith (@IsheSugarShay) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Joshua fought a smart fight. #AndNew<\/a><\/p>\n — Gabriel Rosado (@KingGabRosado) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n For me that’s a boxing lesson <\/p>\n — derry mathews (@derrymathews23) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Hunger in boxing is EVERYTHING!!!<\/p>\n — George “Ferocious” Kambosos Jr (@georgekambosos) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Turn it in Andy you lazy pudding, you had longer this time to prepare. Don’t blame the extra weight, nobody wants to see a 3rd fight, it stunk the gaff out<\/p>\n — Tom Farrell (@TomFarrell89) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Annnndddd thhheeeee neeeewwwwww<\/p>\n — Luke Campbell MBE (@luke11campbell) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Resilience & redemption congrats to Joshua I’m glad he silenced the critics #JoshuaRuiz2<\/a><\/p>\n — JulianJrockWilliams (@Jrockboxing) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n @anthonyfjoshua<\/a> Attaboy keep on punching!<\/p>\n — Klitschko (@Klitschko) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n If your moaning the fight was boring then you know fuck all about boxing <\/p>\n — Anthony Fowler (@afowler06) December 7, 2019<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Fitness levels and tactics spot on I hope the ones telling him to sack McCracken are eating humble pie.<\/p>\n\n
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