On a night destined for history, Andy Ruiz Jr. shattered expectations and Anthony Joshua’s unbeaten streak with a seismic seventh-round stoppage at Madison Square Garden. The 25-1 underdog tore through the champion’s defences, toppling Joshua four times before the referee mercifully waved the contest off — crowning Ruiz the new unified heavyweight champion and the first of Mexican heritage to achieve the feat.

Originally pegged as a stand-in after Jarrell Miller failed drug tests, Ruiz seized his golden ticket with a fearless performance that shook the boxing world to its core. Madison Square Garden, primed for Joshua’s American debut, instead witnessed a masterclass in determination and tenacity.

Joshua had entered the bout with an aura of invincibility, holding the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles, and coming off dominant wins over Alexander Povetkin and Joseph Parker. For six minutes, the Brit appeared poised to maintain order, even flooring Ruiz in the third round with a sharp left. But that fleeting moment of dominance evaporated when Ruiz countered with a heavy right to the temple, exposing cracks in Joshua’s armour.

The drama of the third round stunned the 19,000 in attendance. Ruiz’s relentless follow-up attack floored Joshua twice before the bell, setting a tone of chaos that Joshua never truly escaped. As rounds wore on, the champion appeared increasingly drained, while Ruiz — nimble despite his stocky frame — kept pressing the action with crisp combinations.

The seventh round sealed the upset. Ruiz’s precision forced Joshua down twice more, with the second knockdown leaving Joshua visibly dazed, mouthguard spat out, and clinging to the ropes. Referee Michael Griffin had seen enough and ended the contest, awarding Ruiz a breath-taking TKO victory.

At the time of the stoppage, Ruiz was narrowly ahead on two scorecards, while the third judge had Joshua in front — a testament to how quickly the momentum had swung.

In a division plotting grand showdowns between Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and Tyson Fury, Ruiz tore the script to shreds. His triumph echoed the great upsets of the past, drawing inevitable comparisons to Buster Douglas’ toppling of Mike Tyson and Hasim Rahman’s conquest of Lennox Lewis.

For Ruiz, it was history in one unforgettable night. For Joshua, a sobering reminder that in heavyweight boxing, one punch can change everything.