Anthony Joshua has identified his wins against Dillian Whyte and Andy Ruiz Jr. as the two most important of his professional career. The former heavyweight champion cited the immense personal and professional pressure surrounding both bouts, placing them ahead of his celebrated victory over Wladimir Klitschko.
In a discussion about his past fights, Joshua acknowledged the weight of expectation in several key moments but ultimately singled out two contests for their unique significance. Speaking to DAZN, he considered his options before making his selections.
He said: “I would probably pick Dillian Whyte, maddest fight. Good, good scrap. And then Ruiz 2, because people were saying I should retire and that, if I didn’t win, I’d have no chance of getting back in the heavyweight rankings.”
His first choice was the victory over long-time rival Dillian Whyte in December 2015. The fight was the culmination of a rivalry that began in the amateur ranks, and it allowed Joshua to avenge an earlier defeat. The contest was a fierce affair, ending with a seventh-round stoppage for Joshua.
Joshua’s second selection came from a period of intense career jeopardy. After losing his unified titles to Andy Ruiz Jr. in a major upset, he faced a rematch in December 2019 with his top-level credibility on the line. Rather than engaging in a brawl, Joshua used disciplined boxing to secure a unanimous decision victory and reclaim his belts.
Many boxing observers consider Joshua’s 11th-round stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in 2017 as the defining fight of his career. In that bout, he recovered from a heavy sixth-round knockdown to produce a dramatic late finish. Yet for Joshua, the emotional weight of settling a personal score with Whyte and the professional necessity of rebuilding his career against Ruiz hold greater personal value than the prestige of defeating a legendary champion.
