It was billed as the fight to catapult Anthony Joshua to superstardom in the United States. A debut at New York's Madison Square Garden for the number one marquee draw in boxing. Due to three failed drugs test, Jarrell Miller, Joshua's original opponent, was replaced by Mexican-American Andy Ruiz. However, the opponent was irrelevant. This was the AJ show.

Roll up, roll up...

Joshua who sold-out 80,000 seater stadiums in the UK, was in New York, at MSG, the mecca of boxing to make a statement. For all the claims of longest reigning belt holder, Deontay Wilder and 'linear World Champion', Tyson Fury, Joshua was regarded by most to be the legit Heavyweight champion. Having overcome the toughest of tests to claim four of the five Heavyweight straps.

This was a chance for the American public to get a real-life glimpse of the phenomenon from across the pound. To fall in love with the 'baddest man on the planet' with the affable personality. All the pre-fight radio and TV tours had gone to plan. How could you not love 'AJ' outside the ring?

However, what people really wanted to see was the savage Joshua becomes inside the ring. The man who had KO'd 22 of his 21 challengers. Thousands flocked to bear witness to the 6'6" muscle chiseled giant dispatch of his portly challenger. This was supposed to be the hors d'oeuvres, while the promoters and handlers kept us waiting for the super clash with Wilder or Fury.

Rollover

One man hadn't read the script, however. That man was his opponent Andy Ruiz. Ruiz was supposed to put up a spirited fight before rolling over. The Joshua artillery was unlike anything Ruiz had faced before. Although Ruiz was 'nice' with his hands, he wasn't seen as big or athletic enough to trouble Joshua.

Both fighters were deliberate and cautious in the opening two rounds. This fight was never going to be a one-round blowout for Joshua. The only man to go the distance with Joshua was Joseph Parker in a unification fight. Parker had won his belt in a disputed split decision draw over Ruiz.

In the third round came the moment that turned the fight.

Joshua, who had looked comfortable enough controlling the fight from range, closed the distance on Ruiz. After an exchange of punches, Joshua threw a crushing left hook that landed flush on Ruiz chin and sent him crashing to the canvass.

This knockdown spelled the beginning of the end... for Joshua.

Although Ruiz was stunned, he wasn't badly hurt. However, Joshua eager to put an exclamation mark on his performance went in for the kill. He caught Ruiz with a crisp one-two. Then stepped in again, this time exchanging wildly with Ruiz.

Déjà vu

It was a mistake Joshua had made twice before in his pro career. In the second round against a hurt Dillian Whyte and in the fifth round against Wladimir Klitschko, who like Ruiz he had also floored. Joshua, hell-bent on finish his opponent found himself on the wrong end of a vicious left hook that had him hurt and holding on. In those fights, he was able to recover after a few rounds and close the show.

Again in this fight against Ruiz, Joshua was caught flush by a left hook as he was going in to finish off his opponent. However, this was third-time unlikely. This time Joshua couldn't fully recover.

Ruiz followed the left hook with a right hook high to the temple that sent Joshua crashing to the canvas.

Joshua beat the count but was in full on survival mode. By the end of the round, Ruiz had Joshua down again. Only the bell saved Joshua getting stopped in the third.

However, the bell only delayed the inevitable. It is a credit to Joshua's heart and bravery that the fight went on for a further four rounds. The truth is Joshua was done after three.

Credit to Ruiz. He had the finishing instincts and hand speed to take advantage after hurting Joshua. He is now the man with the Heavyweight title belts that everyone wants.

What next?

In all likelihood, a rematch is next. If I'm honest, I don't like the rematch for Joshua. He struggles disproportionately against smaller guys. He made harder than expected work of Povetkin, Takam and now Ruiz.

Ruiz is a small man with fast hands that isn't afraid to put it on Joshua. Thus if Joshua wants to win the rematch he will have to resist the urge to force the knockout and stick to the basics. Keep Ruiz at range with the jab and use his legs to stay out of danger. If the finish comes, great, however mentally he should be prepared to go the distance. He needs to fight Ruiz in the disciplined manner in which he defeated Parker to be successful.

However now Joshua has to also come to terms with the mental challenge of being worked over by Ruiz. It may have been better if Ruiz had flashed knocked Joshua out in the third. Joshua needs to rebuild his belief that he is the better fighter.

Missed opportunity

This defeat was banana skin to mega-fights with Wilder and Fury, that AJ slipped on badly. However, as much as this was a crushing blow for Joshua, it also represents a missed opportunity for Fury and Wilder. Both men had been holding out for bigger paydays against cash-cow Joshua. Now those fights have lost their luster a little and may, if Ruiz defeats Joshua a second time, disappear completely.

While Wilder claims that the Ruiz fight is proof that Joshua wasn't a real Champion, it doesn't validate Wilder by proxy. Joshua has taken greater risks and come unstuck. For Wilder to be acknowledged as a Champion that isn't ducking opponents, he'll need to fight the likes of Whyte, Parker, Povetkin and now Ruiz. Four fighters that are arguably better than any win on his record. Only the win against (ageing) Luis Ortiz can be said to be on the same level. The only other elite fighter on Wilder record, Tyson Fury, he eeked out a controversial draw.

Wilder could have avoided running that gauntlet of several top Heavyweights if he had taken the mega-fight with Joshua, who has now shown himself to be more than beatable.

One mans loss...

Now, it is the Andy Ruiz rematch that most Joshua fans want next. If Joshua exercises his rematch clause and brings Ruiz to London, he will fill out Wembley. 90,000 will support him in his comeback fight. Millions will watch on pay-per-view.

If Joshua wins that (by no means a given) a trilogy fight will be massive, particularly if Ruiz puts up a good fight. Not many will complain. It will be a money-spinning saga for both fighters.

Like Joshua, Ruiz is marketable and relatable to the everyday punter, just in a different way. Ruiz replaces protein shakes with Snickers bar. He replaces the Stud bod, with the dad bod. He is a tough Mexican with good boxing skill and fast hands. The Brits will cheer on Joshua of course but will have a soft spot for Ruiz. Ruiz hasn't certainly thrown himself into the Heavyweight picture, big time.

Uncertain contenders

Combat sport is so unpredictable. Not just in the results of a fight but in the direction of rivalries. There are shaping up to be three 'bubbles' in the Heavyweight division. The Joshua bubble, the Wilder bubble, and the Fury bubble. The Joshua bubble is the biggest and most lucrative. Ruiz is in danger of bursting it if Joshua cannot get the win back. If he can it can continue with or without the Wilder and Fury fights.

Ultimately until the best fighters fight each other the Heavyweight division will be in flux. We still don't know who the best Heavyweights are.

This fight might be a blip and the most significant rivalry may be Joshua, Wilder and Fury as everyone suspects.

However, it could easily be the case that Joshua, Ruiz, Whyte, and Parker that are the cream of the division.

Or it could be Wilder, Fury and Ortiz are in a league of their own.

Then we have Usyk, Hunter, Joyce, Rivas and Dubois who will fancy their chances of shaking things up.

It's a fascinating time in the Heavyweight division, and anyone's guess how the dust will settle.