Joshua's rematch redemption triggers talk of trilogy

DIRIYAH, Saudi Arabia－Anthony Joshua would not be drawn on his future plans after regaining his world heavyweight titles from Andy Ruiz Jr. on Saturday.

The British star won back his WBA, IBF and WBO belts with a unanimous defeat of Ruiz Jr. in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, in a highly anticipated rematch dubbed the 'Clash on the Dunes'.

The victory reinstates Joshua as a major player in boxing's most glamorous division, and instantly renews speculation about a possible unification super-fight with WBC champion Deontay Wilder.

But Joshua, 30, said while he remained open to a fight with the unbeaten Wilder, he would not "chase" the fight.

"It's difficult to unite them (the belts)," said Joshua, who had seen negotiations with Wilder's camp fall flat several times before his defeat to Ruiz Jr. in June.

"We'll see what happens. Chasing that fight wasn't playing to my benefit, so I'm going to let the path take its course.

"When the opportunity presents itself to become unified heavyweight champion I'll take it."

Ruiz Jr. is eager for a third meeting with Joshua. Although Joshua indicated he would be happy to face the Mexican-American again, that fight is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

In the short term, Joshua faces mandatory title defenses against IBF challenger Kubrat Pulev and WBO contender Oleksandr Usyk.

Promoter Eddie Hearn also declined to elaborate on Joshua's future plans.

"Tonight's about celebrating victory," Hearn said. "We'll speak to the governing bodies and see who goes first.

"We are going to celebrate. Anthony Joshua is an amazing ambassador for the sport. Tonight, in Saudi Arabia, he becomes the two-time heavyweight champion of the world and that is beautiful.

"They wrote him off. They said he was all hype. He had to come back from humiliation at Madison Square Garden. Tonight, he is the governor. The governor of the division."

Joshua said he had never doubted his ability to regain the titles despite his shocking defeat in New York, when Ruiz knocked him down four times in one of heavyweight boxing's greatest upsets.

"I've said it was like sitting an exam," Joshua said. "I failed the exam first time. This time though I studied, prepared and I just knew I was going to pass."

Joshua also defended his cagey tactical style, saying he had consciously avoided being sucked into a slug fest against the hard-hitting Ruiz.

"There were times when I looked in Andy's eyes and I wanted to put my fist through his head," Joshua said.

"But this is boxing. It's dangerous. I had a game plan, I had a strategy and I wanted to follow it through.

"I can knock people out when I want to, and I can box when I want to. Tonight was just about winning.

"If I box for the crowd, or box for other people's opinions, I might not have been victorious. So I'm just going to follow my instincts and box for myself."

ASSOCIATED PRESS