Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. Live Coverage And Discussion

Welcome to Fightful’s live coverage of Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. Tonight, Joshua makes his U.S. debut as he defends his three world titles against Ruiz, who is looking to become the first male heavyweight world champion from Mexico. 

We’ll be providing you with quick results of the undercard, which can be seen at the top of the page for free, while also be giving you live, round-by-round coverage of the main card, all featuring world title bouts.

Below is the main card: (8:30 p.m. ET/DAZN):

• Andy Ruiz Jr. defeated Anthony Joshua by TKO, round 7, 1:27 to win the unified WBA “Super,” WBO and IBF heavyweight titles
• Callum Smith defeated Hassan N’Dam by TKO, round 3, 2:56 to retain the WBA “Super” and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Titles
• Katie Taylor defeated Delfine Persoon by majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 96-94) to become the Undisputed WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF and Ring Magazine Female Lightweight champion

Below is the prelim card (5:30 p.m. ET/Fightful):

• Josh Kelly and Ray Robinson fight to a majority draw (96-95 Kelly, 95-95, 95-95). Kelly retains the WBA International Welterweight Title
• Joshua Buatsi defeated Marco Antonio  by TKO, round 4, 1:39 to retain the WBA International Light Heavyweight Title
• Chris Algieri defeated Tommy Coyle by TKO, round 8 to retain the WBO International Junior Welterweight Title

Below is the undercard:

• Austin Williams vs. Quadeer Jenkins: (Swing bout)
• Diego Pacheco vs. Jared Chauvin: (Swing bout)
• Souleymane Cissokho defeated Vladimir Hernandez by unanimous decision (80-72, 79-73, 79-73)

MAIN CARD

Katie Taylor (WBA, WBO and IBF champion) vs. Delfine Persoon (WBC champion): Undisputed WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine Female Lightweight Titles

Round 1: Taylor throws three straight jabs followed by a left hook. Taylor throws a flurry upstairs but Persoon counters with a right hand. An exchange between the two follows and Taylor lands another jab while Persoon lunges forward for a couple of jabs. Persoon moves forward but Taylor lands a couple of hooks.

Fightful scored round 1 for Taylor 10-9

Round 2: Taylor moves around the ring while Persoon continues to chase. Persoon lands a combination upstairs and pressures Taylor to the ropes. Both women land trade hooks and Persoon gets the better of the two. Taylor lands a body shot, but Persoon connects two hooks upstairs.

Fightful scored round 2 for Persoon 10-9

Round 3: The Irish champion goes back to throwing more jabs and Persoon is looking to bring the fight up close. Persoon pressures Taylor near the corner and throws wild hooks and Taylor responds with a couple of right hands. Taylor connects with a counter right jab upstairs.

Fightful scored round 3 for Persoon 10-9

Round 4: Persoon is still more aggressive, but Taylor is willing to have ugly exchanges with the Belgian champion. Persoon’s left eye is swelling a little bit. Taylor throws a right hand and barely connects. Persoon lands a left uppercut at the end of the round.

Fightful scored round 4 for Persoon 10-9

Round 5: Taylor lands an overhand left to the side of Persoon’s head. Persoon drives Taylor to the ropes and Taylor taunts Persoon to throw more punches at her. Persoon continues to throw more punches and lands a left hand on Taylor, who is dealing with blood running from her nose. Taylor gets hit with two straight right hooks.

Fightful scored round 5 for Persoon 10-9

Round 6: Taylor lands a solid 1-2 combination upstairs and is performing better this round than most of the first half of the fight. Taylor is a little more aggressive and connecting with the check hook. Persoon is now struggling to land anything in this round and Taylor is making Persoon miss.

Fightful scored round 6 for Taylor 10-9

Round 7: Taylor lands a three-punch combination, but Persoon manages to connect with the left hand. Taylor is moving back and forcing Persoon to chase her and force punches in. Persoon connect with a couple of left hooks, but is also missing a lot of punches. Persoon lands a counter right hand.

Fightful scored round 7 for Taylor 10-9

Round 8: Persoon is still aggressive and forcing Taylor to engage. Despite Persoon being the aggressor, her face is more bruised and swollen than Taylor’s. Persoon connects on a couple of left hooks and Taylor is still moving back and looking to counter, but her punches are not landing very well.

Fightful scored round 8 for Persoon 10-9

Round 9: Both women trade punches throughout the first half of the round in the middle of the ring. Persoon is still more aggressive as Taylor is struggling to land big shots. Taylor is brought down, but it’s not ruled a knockdown.

Fightful scored round 9 for Persoon 10-9

Round 10: The final round sees both women trade punches, but it’s Persoon who is landing the better punches. Persoon lands a left hand that staggers Taylor. Taylor is trying to stay vertical and wants to fight back, but Persoon is still outperforming her fellow champion.

Fightful scored round 10 for Persoon 10-9, making it 97-93 for Persoon

Official Result: Katie Taylor defeated Delfine Persoon by majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 96-94) to become the Undisputed WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF and Ring Magazine Female Lightweight champion

Callum Smith (c) vs. Hassan N’Dam: WBA “Super” and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Title

Round 1: N’Dam has a left uppercut blocked by Smith and Smith responds with multiple jabs. Not a lot of action in this first round as N’Dam moves around the ring while Smith chases him. Smith drops N’Dam with a check left hook late in the round, but N’Dam recovers and survives the round.

Fightful scored round 1 for Smith 10-8

Round 2: Smith drops N’Dam once again early in the round with another hook. N’Dam gets up and fights back, looking more desperate to get back in the fight. Smith is now repeatedly throwing hooks of ending the fight early, but is unable to do so.

Fightful scored round 2 for Smith 10-8

Round 3: Smith stays in the center of the ring while N’Dam moves around the ring. Smith lands a couple of uppercuts. N’Dam connects with another jab, but Smith is still the more aggressive fighter and outworking N’Dam. Smith lands a left hook upstairs. Against the ropes, N’Dam throws several punches, but is hit with a straight right hand that staggers. Smith drops N’Dam with a right hand that sends N’Dam’s head bouncing off the canvas. N’Dam hobbles his way back up, but the referee stops the fight.

Official Result: Callum Smith defeated Hassan N’Dam by TKO, round 3, 2:56 to retain the WBA “Super” and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Titles

Anthony Joshua (c) vs. Andy Ruiz Jr.: Unified WBA “Super,” WBO and IBF Heavyweight Titles

Round 1: Ruiz throws a couple of quick hooks to the center of Joshua’s body. Ruiz is chasing Joshua early in the fight as Joshua landed a quick jab. Ruiz lands a left jab to the body. Joshua throws a 1-2 combination and Ruiz misses with a counter overhand right. Joshua lands a quick left hand. At the end of the round, Joshua connects with a left jab that bruises Ruiz’s left eye.

Fightful scored round 1 for Joshua 10-9

Round 2: Ruiz opens the round by walking down Joshua and throws a couple of right hands. Ruiz misses with a jab and Joshua lands a couple of jabs. Joshua lands a counter left jab as Ruiz’s shorter reach prevents him from attacking effectively on the inside. Ruiz continues to pressure Joshua by walking him down, but isn’t able to push Joshua around. Joshua lands a crisp left hook to Ruiz’s chin and Ruiz responds by barely landing a left hand of his own.

Fightful scored round 2 for Joshua 10-9

Round 3: Joshua lands a vicious left uppercut to Ruiz’s chin and drops. Ruiz gets up and lands a big right hand and drops Joshua. Joshua is slow to get up and Ruiz attacks him on the ropes. Ruiz drops Joshua one more time late in the round and Joshua is very slow to get up. The champion recovers and survives the round.

Fightful scored round 3 for Ruiz 10-8

Round 4: Ruiz starts off and attacks Joshua in the corner and Joshua is still reeling from the previous round. Ruiz is measuring his opponent up and is looking for a big right hand to end the fight. This round is much more quiet than the previous one.

Fightful scored round 4 for Ruiz 10-9

Round 5: The action is virtually non-existent for the first 45 seconds, but Ruiz follows suit with a left hook and then a right jab after Joshua lands a quick right jab. Joshua lands a right jab that staggers Ruiz and momentarily turns the tide. Ruiz lands a quick left jab.

Fightful scored round 5 for Joshua 10-9

Round 6: Joshua and Ruiz attack each other with jabs throughout the round, but it is Ruiz who keeps pressing the action forward. Ruiz lands a hard right jab to Joshua’s chin. Joshua lands another left jab, but Ruiz then attacks with a left body shot then a right hand upstairs.

Fightful scored round 6 for Ruiz 10-9

Round 7: Ruiz attacks with the left hook and drops Joshua one more time. Joshua is slow to get up again. Joshua is dropped one more time and is taken out of the fight. We have a new heavyweight world champion.

Official Result: Andy Ruiz Jr. defeated Anthony Joshua by TKO, round 7, 1:27 to win the unified WBA “Super,” WBO and IBF heavyweight titles