Twitter turns on Anthony Joshua after 7th round TKO loss
After Andy Ruiz Jr. pulled the upset of the decade against Anthony Joshua, Twitter was on fire with harsh criticism for Joshua.
Before Saturday, June 1, the world widely believed that Anthony Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) was the best heavyweight boxer in the world. Wilder was second best, and Tyson Fury was a close third. That all changed after Andy Ruiz Jr. (32-1, 21 KOs) dropped Joshua four times in seven rounds, stopping Joshua in the process.
It was Joshua’s first trip to the U.S., and he hoped to create a new fanbase, but if Twitter is any indicator, then he has lost most people that were once in his corner. Most believe that he was exposed by Ruiz.
Not surprisingly, Deontay Wilder had something to say to Joshua following his shocking defeat and his words weren’t complimentary.
Shortly after the bout, Wilder Tweeted, “He [Anthony Joshua] wasn’t a true champion. His whole career was consisted [sic] of lies, contradictions and gifts. Facts and now we know who was running from who!!!!”
He wasn’t a true champion. His whole career was consisted of lies, contradictions and gifts.
— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) June 2, 2019
Facts and now we know who was running from who!!!!#TilThisDay
Wilder is using Joshua’s failure to position himself as the lone champion within the heavyweight division. It’s a narrative that seems to be working already.
Former British heavyweight champion and all-time great Lennox Lewis was at a loss for words. He didn’t know what to say, keeping his response limited to a simple sentence.
https://twitter.com/LennoxLewis/status/1135025360330821632
Here’s how fellow boxers, celebrities, and industry leaders reacted on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PBConFOX/status/1135033572794834944
AJ was talked into fighting a fighter he should have had much more respect for Ruiz has been a good fighter for a while. https://t.co/ISMsyxgihL
— George Foreman (@GeorgeForeman) June 2, 2019
Oh. My. F’ing. Goodness! Congratulations @Andy_destroyer1! You just shocked the world!!! Beat @anthonyfjoshua down! Literally! what a night! @DAZN_USA #JoshuaRuiz @MatchroomBoxing #boxing @SkySportsBoxing
— Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) June 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/Tyson_Fury/status/1135025949194543106
Not sure if it’s just me but @anthonyfjoshua said in one of the rounds “why am I feeling like this?” He didn’t seem right from the start, I wonder if there’s more to this?
— Frank Bruno MBE 🇬🇧 (@frankbrunoboxer) June 2, 2019
Surreal, yes. Joshua didn’t want to fight, yes. The referee looked lost, yes. We all feel like we need an 8 count, yes. Someone expected this, no. #JoshuaRuiz
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) June 2, 2019
Fat guys of the world, it’s our time!!!! And the new! ANDY RUIZ, good for you man. #JoshuaRuiz pic.twitter.com/UatxkpPl0V
— Lou DiBella🥊 (@loudibella) June 2, 2019
Damn, Ruiz shocks the world AND DX chopped ‘em all on the way out. Legend. https://t.co/bAGllPNhCQ
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 2, 2019
Forget all the analysis bullshit. The better fighter won the heavyweight title Saturday night. Knowing how to fight is more important than your waist size. Gotta love Ruiz.
— Nigel Collins (@NigelBoxing) June 2, 2019
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 2, 2019
I wonder what Jarrell Miller is thinking right now. This was his opportunity before he was popped for taking three different PEDs. He lost a $6.5 million payday and the chance to win the heavyweight crown in his backyard. And now, he just watched a chinny Joshua get KOed
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) June 2, 2019
That was a #sisepuede moment if I ever saw one #JoshuaRuiz
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) June 2, 2019
Just got to watch #JoshuaRuizJr Allrighty then. That was something. Props to Ruiz for getting through the early knockdown and coming right back to continually hurt Joshua. A lackluster effort by Joshua, but Ruiz deserves credit for getting the job done.
— Al Bernstein (@AlBernstein) June 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheLatinSnake_/status/1135022755676590080
OMG! OMG! I cannot believe this S$&@$! Anthony Joshua — holder of 3 belts, gets TKO’d by Butter Bean.......I mean some dude named Andy Ruiz JR. What a damn disgrace. Joshua looked completely gassed! More fatigued than hurt! Now how in the Hell did you let that happen? How?
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 2, 2019
The one thing that all these tweets have in common is that everyone is shocked by tonight’s outcome. Joshua’s lost is one of the biggest boxing upsets in the last 20 years or more. He lost a lot tonight including his titles, reputation, confidence, and money. Joshua lost the lucrative paydays that he’s used to.
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His loss means that the world is robbed of the Wilder vs. Joshua super fight that we all hoped for. There’s a roundabout chance that Joshua can regain the titles, build up his reputation, and solidify a match with Wilder. However, Wilder vs. Joshua will never generate the same buzz that it possessed before Joshua’s first loss.