Andy Ruiz Jr. surprises Anthony Joshua with a seventh round TKO to win the heavyweight title

NEW YORK – Andy Ruiz Jr. has just shaken the planet.

Ruiz (33-1, 22 KOs) spoiled the long-awaited debut of unified heavyweight champion and British star Anthony Joshua in the United States, scoring four defeats and registering a spectacular surprise with a seventh-round TKO at Madison Square Garden.

At the beginning of the third round, Ruiz not only lifted the veil on the canvas to do what the oddsmakers deemed almost impossible, but he was cool, powerful and confident. 39, an unparalleled intrepidity by systematically dismantling Joshua (22-1, 21 KO) to reverse the heavyweight division down.

Ruiz, 29, a native of southern California, became the first boxer of Mexican descent to win a heavyweight title while he captured Joshua's IBF, WBA and WBO titles with strength and an excessive heart. This surprise was undoubtedly the most important of the division since Hasim Rahman who had stopped Lennox Lewis in 2001 and recalled the memories of the victory of James "Buster" Douglas in 1990 on Mike Tyson.

"I just want to thank God for giving this victory, and without him it would not have been possible," Ruiz said. "That's what I dreamed about, that's why I worked hard and I can not believe I just realized my dreams."

Joshua, 29, the biggest sports star in the world, never really recovered from two shocking reversals in the third round shortly after dropping Ruiz for the first time in his career.

Ruiz never retreated from there despite Joshua's release in the fourth round while it was clear that both fighters were severely fatigued. Two knockdowns later in the seventh inning and referee Michael Griffin jumped to 1:27 to dismiss the bout while Joshua was tired on his feet.

With the sold-out crowd, which was largely supportive of Joshua, stunned and silent after the stop, Ruiz jumped around the ring in a raging celebration.

"Great respect for Andy, great respect," Joshua said. "[He’s a] good fighter. Thank you America. Thank you all for coming tonight. Sorry to have dropped my friends, sorry to have dropped my followers. "

Ruiz, who signed with boxing champions Premier shortly before his April break against Alexander Dimitrenko, faced Joshua just four weeks after Jarrell's "Big Baby" Miller failed a trio of drug tests. . Now, Ruiz becomes the main actor in a renaissance division that also includes WBC champion, Deontay Wilder, and Lineal's unparalleled champion, Tyson Fury.

The third round should easily fall as the best of 2019 after Joshua clinched a beautiful combination of two ground shots Ruiz. But Joshua was caught shortly after with a left hook and right hand at the top of the head to drop him. Ruiz then followed with a wave of 12 unanswered shots in the corner that brought down Joshua a second time, the champion was lucky enough to survive the round.

"It was the first time I dropped on the floor," Ruiz said. "But you know what, it makes me stronger and makes me want to take it even more.

"I did not want to throw away everything I had, I wanted to hunt him down more, work the body, work my head and just listen to the game plan, we just got it, man."

The struggle became temporary, though Ruiz began to do a much better job of getting into Joshua's advantage in reaching out, as it became clear that AJ was not fully recovered from previous reversals. Ruiz again wounded Joshua in round 7 and started hitting him with short power shots to produce a pair of rollovers. Griffin gave Joshua every chance to continue, but after AJ turned his back and walked to the corner, Griffin pushed her aside.

"There is no excuse, it's my fault, I got caught in a big shot," Joshua said. "Congratulations to him.I would have preferred it to be Deontay Wilder, you know what I mean?" But that was not the case .It was Andy Ruiz, and he deserves it, so that the glory and fortune that he is about to receive.

"I do not want someone drowning a little bit in their griefs.It's boxing.It's the same.It was just not my night.C & # 39; was Andy Ruiz's night .You know what? It's good for TV. It's good for DAZN. It makes people look. "

Both fighters showed immediate interest after the fight in Joshua's contracted revenge clause.

"Of course, man," said Ruiz. "Right now, I just want to celebrate, I just did the story, baby, for Mexico!" That means everything, man. "That's what I've been dreaming about since I was 6 years old. . "

"We will do revenge in the UK in November or December," Joshua added.

Ruiz dominated Joshua, 56 to 47, according to CompuBox.

subscribe to In This Corner with Brian Campbell for outstanding boxing coverage each week.

CBS Sports was with you for every fight punch in New York with our update dashboard and live updates below. If you have problems viewing the results or want to refresh the dashboard, please click here.

Joshua vs. Ruiz Scorecard, live coverage

Joshua vs. Map Ruiz results

Andy Ruiz Jr. (c) Def. Anthony Joshua via TKO in the seventh round
Callum Smith (c) def. Hbadan N & # 39; Dam by KO in the third round
Katie Taylor (c) def. Delfine Persoon by majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 96-94)
Josh Kelly vs. Ray Robinson said a majority draw (96-95, 95-95, 95-95)

Thank you for being past.