Heavyweight boxing is still the biggest attraction in the sport. Everyone loves to watch the big guys go at it, and the unpredictability makes for compulsive viewing.
History shows a litany of shock results in the top division: James J Braddock beating Max Baer in 1935, Leon Spinks winning by decision over Muhammad Ali in 1978, Ingemar Johansson knocking out Floyd Patterson in 1959, and Hasim Rahman stopping Lennox Lewis in 2001. The latter two shock results were avenged in rematches with conclusive knockouts.
Fast-forward to June 2019. Unheralded Mexican-American challenger Andy Ruiz Jr. stunned the world when he brought an end to the three-year reign of British unbeaten WBA/IBF/WBO champion Anthony Joshua, in the seventh round, after suffering a heavy third-round knockdown. Ruiz has had six months to bask in the glory of becoming champion, and now he has to honor the clause in the original contract, which is the rematch that takes place Saturday at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia.