NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Boxing

Boxing: It was about redemption, but Anthony Joshua had little on show to worry Fury or Wilder

By Gareth A Davies
Daily Telegraph UK·
8 Dec, 2019 06:30 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

British boxer Anthony Joshua celebrates winning. Photo / Getty

British boxer Anthony Joshua celebrates winning. Photo / Getty

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Anthony Joshua learned from his shock defeat in the first fight to secure a comprehensive and strategic victory over Andy Ruiz in Saudi Arabia and reclaim the WBO, IBF and WBA heavyweight world title belts.

It was one-paced, with few exchanges over the 12-round distance, but the focus and desire of the young British heavyweight - the 30 year-old is still young in boxing experience - cannot be doubted.

READ MORE:
• Boxing: Andy Ruiz Jr. slammed over weight confession, trilogy talk shut down
• Boxing: Anthony Joshua exacts revenge to reclaim heavyweight boxing titles
• As it happened: Anthony Joshua v Andy Ruiz Jr for the WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles
• Boxing: Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr weigh in ahead of rematch in Saudi Arabia, showcase body transformations

Historically, and for the record, Joshua became only the fourth heavyweight in history to claim the belts straight back, after Floyd Patterson (1960), Muhammad Ali (1978) and Lennox Lewis (2001).

Joshua graduated from his fight with Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium with honours in one of the sporting events of the year of 2017, but the challenger in this contest at the Diriyah Arena had been forced back to school following defeat to Ruiz on June 1 in New York.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
British boxer Anthony Joshua and his American rival Andy Ruiz Jr. Photo / Getty
British boxer Anthony Joshua and his American rival Andy Ruiz Jr. Photo / Getty

Today's comprehensive victory, however, will give Joshua great confidence and takes him into 2020 with battles against Deontay Wilder - the WBC champion - and Tyson Fury now beckoning.

Regardless of what anyone else might say or believe, these are the Big Three, and the prospect of them meeting in the next 12 months is very real. Joshua may fancy a return match with south Londoner Dillian Whyte - who stopped Polish fighter Mariusz Wach on the Middle East undercard - but it's just as likely he will wait it out to observe the winner between Fury and Wilder, who are expected to face off in Las Vegas on February 22.

I'm told by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum that the fight will be officially confirmed by the fighters and broadcasters imminently, and, on that point, although Joshua beat Ruiz, there will have been little on show to worry Fury, or Wilder, from the Briton's display.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But take nothing away from Joshua, he did what he had to do. He followed trainer Ron McCracken's gameplan to the letter. He can smile inwardly at all those who doubted him.

Yes, he wants to be involved in a firefight, you can see that in him, but he kept his composure round after round. I was in the company of Fury's trainer, Ben Davison, during the fight, and his view was that Joshua had shown great focus, and proved that he can learn.

Joshua must continue learning if he is to overcome the greater boxing skills of Fury and explosive power of Wilder.

Heavyweight boxing should be about knockouts, as the old saying goes. In Saudi Arabia, it was about redemption for Joshua. Job done.

Discover more

Boxing

Boxing star mocked for startling body change

06 Dec 10:20 PM
Boxing

As it happened: Joshua v Ruiz - Joshua exacts revenge

07 Dec 08:00 PM
Boxing

Joshua exacts revenge to reclaim heavyweight titles

07 Dec 10:12 PM
Boxing

Phil Gifford: How Andy Ruiz reminds me of David Tua

08 Dec 01:00 AM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Boxing

Premium
New Zealand

Kiwi athletes urged to watch what they wear - or risk falling foul of drug testers

29 Jun 12:00 AM
Boxing

Emma Nesbitt, 20, set to fight 47-year-old Aussie boxer in Auckland

25 Jun 10:00 PM
Boxing

'No truth in it': Gallen hits back at SBW claims

19 Jun 04:00 AM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Boxing

Premium
Kiwi athletes urged to watch what they wear - or risk falling foul of drug testers

Kiwi athletes urged to watch what they wear - or risk falling foul of drug testers

29 Jun 12:00 AM

Athletes are warned to avoid wearing others' sports gear to prevent contamination.

Emma Nesbitt, 20, set to fight 47-year-old Aussie boxer in Auckland

Emma Nesbitt, 20, set to fight 47-year-old Aussie boxer in Auckland

25 Jun 10:00 PM
'No truth in it': Gallen hits back at SBW claims

'No truth in it': Gallen hits back at SBW claims

19 Jun 04:00 AM
Premium
'Understand the magnitude': Inside the mind of Sonny Bill Williams

'Understand the magnitude': Inside the mind of Sonny Bill Williams

14 Jun 12:02 AM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP