標籤: Trilogy

Andy Ruiz Jr has renewed calls for a third fight with Anthony Joshua, saying their rivalry is still incomplete six years after their first meeting. The former unified heavyweight champion recently spoke in an interview reflecting on his two bouts in 2019. Ruiz, now 35-2-1 with 22 knockouts, said both men changed after those bouts and he believes a trilogy would settle the score.

Their first clash ended in a major upset, while the rematch saw Joshua regain his title. Ruiz said he acknowledged his role in the second outcome but insisted that the third fight would see a different outcome if the two fighters met again at their best.

Andy Ruiz demands a trilogy with Anthony Joshua

Ruiz clarified his position while discussing his rivalry with Anthony Joshua on Casino.org. “I think there should be a trilogy with ‘AJ.’ “His life changed when we fought, and my life changed when we fought. I beat him; he is the one who beat me [in the rematch] Because I let him. I let him beat me in the second fight because I was stupid; I should have taken that fight more seriously.”

He said he is not trying to pressure Joshua into a fight. “I’m not going to go out there and force him or push him. But I think it will be a good fight for both of us to come back. But I will definitely beat him 100 percent.” Ruiz said he wants the fight to happen at the right time.

Revisiting the battles of 2019

The rivalry began in June 2019 at Madison Square Garden. Ruiz entered as a late replacement and knocked down Joshua several times before stopping him in the seventh round. The result gave Ruiz the heavyweight title and marked one of the biggest upsets in boxing.

They met again in Saudi Arabia in December 2019. Joshua used a different approach, controlling the 12-round fight to win by decision and regain his belt. Ruiz later admitted that he was in no shape for that fight. “I weighed about 300 pounds, so I was out of shape, and yet I lasted 12 rounds. So, I think when people saw the fight they didn’t see the best in me.”

Ruiz said he wanted another chance to improve on that performance. “I want to redeem myself. I gave my rematch.”

Ruiz reflects on discipline and Joshua’s form

Ruiz said discipline has been important to furthering his career. “Right now, I think patience is key, and I just have to stay motivated and stay disciplined. If you’re not disciplined, shit’s going to happen. And that’s what I wasn’t with AJ.”

Since the rematch, Ruiz has wins against Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz and a draw with Jarrell Miller. Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua has suffered setbacks, including defeats to Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois. Ruiz said fighters should not overlook Joshua.

“I think a lot of fighters look at [Joshua’s] The past and the things he’s been through and the losses he’s suffered, but every warrior can save himself. Anyone can come back stronger.” He also told about Joshua’s style. “Sometimes, when he’s fighting, I think he’s too cautious… I think his instincts are what let him down sometimes.”

Ruiz said he will remain patient while waiting for a possible third fight. “I hope it’s good, so we can do a trilogy.”

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

Matt Brown isn’t convinced by Nate Diaz’s public explanation for declining a UFC return in favor of fighting Mike Perry on the May 16 Netflix card headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. Speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown argued that the Netflix deal certainly paid more than what the UFC was offering and that Diaz’s decision does not hold up to scrutiny as a matter of principle.

The situation began when UFC CEO Dana White revealed that the promotion was in talks to bring Diaz back, but he believed that Most Valuable Promotions had made him an offer he could not refuse. Diaz publicly hit back, claiming that the UFC had actually offered him more money for a trilogy fight against Conor McGregor and that he turned it down because he had no interest in facing McGregor on his “last leg” after being out of action for five years. Brown knows Diaz well enough to know that he respects the framing but does not accept it at face value.

“Money talks,” Brown said. “He’s making more money with this Netflix fight than he is with the UFC. That’s why he’s not fighting Conor in the UFC. I lean toward believing Dana on this. He got an offer he couldn’t refuse. Now, with the way the contract is structured, with how Nate is spinning it, there might be something going on a few layers down behind the scenes that we don’t know about yet. But there’s no way he’s making more money. Not earning.

“I don’t believe for a moment that he’s not making more money with this Netflix deal, although whatever happens, he ends up with more money in his bank account from this fight than the UFC, or he doesn’t take the fight. He’s going to pick the highest bidder. I don’t think that’s unique to Nate Diaz, but I think he understands that this is a prize fight. He’s fighting for the money. He’s going to take the highest pay. Is.”

Nate Diaz’s MVP deal

Brown’s broader theory is that Diaz’s deal with MVP could be tied to fewer terms than UFC returns, and the contract structure could be as important a factor as the upfront money.

“There’s either something more to it, like potentially he didn’t want to sign another contract with the UFC or something along those lines,” Brown said. “When they say there was an offer he couldn’t refuse, maybe it wasn’t just the money. Maybe there was something else going on behind the scenes with him. When he says they offered him more money, up front, they offered him more money – is there something going on through the back door?

“It doesn’t make sense to me that he would simply accept a lower salary for what would probably be an uphill battle for him. There’s something where the math is not adding up. There are some things going on behind the scenes, behind closed doors, that we don’t know about.”

Oleksandr Usyk has eased his stance on a potential clash with Agit Kabayel, raising fresh uncertainty over a long-discussed third fight with Tyson Fury. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Mail the undisputed heavyweight champion said Kabayel could fit into his plans following his upcoming title defense against Rico Verhoeven in May.

Usyk had previously outlined a clear path away from Kabyle, but his latest comments suggest a change. While he remains linked to the winner of the WBO eliminator between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois, the bigger picture now looks more flexible than before.

Oleksandr Usyk leaves options open after Verhoeven fight

Usyk made it clear that his plans are not on hold, even if expectations remain for his next few fights.

“Maybe I’ll fight Kabyle, maybe I won’t face Tyson Fury for the third time, and instead I’ll fight Kabyle. I only tell my plan, but that’s not set in stone. I understand the agit fans are saying you have to fight him. But I don’t have to fight him. I’ve got to live my life, I’ve got to take care of my team, my kids. As far as fighting goes, I just work hard, and my Opponents work hard.”

“Maybe it’s possible that I fight Agit. He’s a great fighter, and he’s very smart.”

The tone is different from earlier this year when Usyk’s roadmap appeared certain. Now, depending on how things go, he is clearly keeping multiple doors open.

Inevitable pressure builds around Agit Kabyle

Kabayel’s status as a WBC mandatory challenger has been a topic of discussion for months. His camp has worked hard for a title shot, arguing that he has earned it.

The 32-year-old is unstoppable and is considered one of the more disciplined legends outside the top level. Usyk’s public praise only adds weight to his case.

If Usyk chooses Kabayel next, it will satisfy quiet criticism of his avoidance of the expectations and mandates of the sanctioning body. If not, the pressure is likely to increase.

Tyson Fury Trilogy No Longer Guaranteed

After the previous two fights, a third fight with Fury seemed inevitable. Now, that scenario is much less certain.

Fury has continued to seek a trilogy following his defeat in December 2024, but Usyk’s latest comments suggest it is no longer a priority.

Now everything depends on time. The Wardley-Dubois winner still factors into the title picture, and Usyk’s May bout with Verhoeven remains the immediate focus.

For now, the heavyweight division remains fluid. However, one thing is clear. Usyk is still deciding what’s next.