Boxing art collector Ingo Wegerich explores the stories behind iconic fight artwork, drawing on his extensive private collection. This piece centres on Anthony Joshua’s redemption win over Andy Ruiz Jr.
Following the tragic accident on December 29, 2025, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, Nigeria – in which two close friends and team members of Anthony Joshua, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, lost their lives – there has been a period of quiet around the two-time unified heavyweight champion.
As attention turns back to ‘AJ’s next move, we revisit one of the defining moments of his career – and the artwork that captured it.
The Fight
The rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. on December 7, 2019, in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, was an event of extremes – sporting, financial and logistical.
Six months earlier, late-replacement Andy Ruiz Jr. had stunned the boxing world at Madison Square Garden, knocking Joshua down four times in seven rounds to claim the WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO titles. Comparisons to Mike Tyson’s defeat by Buster Douglas were inevitable.
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The rematch, titled Clash on the Dunes, was not only the first heavyweight world championship staged in Saudi Arabia, but also an early marker of what has since become a new boxing Mecca.
The event came with an extraordinary financial package. Joshua reportedly earned between $60 million and $85 million, while Ruiz earned between $10 million and $13 million. The Diriyah Arena – an open-air stadium in the desert – was constructed in just six weeks and held 15,000 spectators.
At the weigh-in, the contrast was clear. Ruiz tipped the scales at 283.7lbs, more than 15lbs heavier than in the first fight, prompting suggestions he had celebrated too long. Joshua, by contrast, came in at 237¾lbs – over 10lbs lighter than before.
Inside the ring, the fight was controlled and clinical. Joshua dictated the distance, stayed disciplined, and scored consistently behind his jab and footwork. Ruiz struggled to close the gap or land anything meaningful.
More importantly, Joshua had answered every question with a tactical masterclass.
The Artwork
Boxing News marked Clash on the Dunes with a striking painted cover in vibrant shades of yellow, gold and brown, depicting both fighters in action. The artwork was created by Hall of Fame artist Richard T. Slone.
Image credit: Richard T. Slone
The colour palette carries symbolic weight. Yellow, often associated with tension and inner unrest, reflects the nervous energy before the fight. Gold represents ambition, wealth and grandeur, while also evoking the Saudi setting. The tones collectively mirror desert sand – a deliberate reference to the event’s title. Brown adds a sense of tradition and timelessness.
The painting was completed before the fight, which explains why it does not reflect the eventual physical disparity between the fighters. In Slone’s depiction, Joshua appears compact and powerful, almost gladiatorial, with sharply defined musculature.
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Both fighters are captured mid-exchange. Their expressions convey focus and intensity. Joshua’s eyes are closed, suggesting deep concentration, while his punch appears to drive through Ruiz with force and intent. Ruiz, mouth open, embodies exertion and determination.
The word “Destroyer” is visible on Ruiz’s shorts – a nod to his nickname, earned through his aggressive, high-output style.
The Roman numeral “II” references the rematch, but also symbolises Joshua’s attempt to rebuild after defeat — mentally as much as physically. The loss had shaken his identity as champion. Here, he appears composed, focused and resolute.
Slone’s brushwork is expressive and energetic. Through colour, movement and symbolism, he transforms a sporting moment into visual history with psychological depth.
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The Artist
Richard T. Slone, a British-born artist now based in Las Vegas, is widely regarded as one of boxing’s foremost painters.
A former protégé of Joe Frazier and a member of the famed Kronk Gym, Slone has served as the official artist of the International Boxing Hall of Fame since 1996.
He has been commissioned for some of the sport’s biggest events, including Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather vs Canelo Alvarez, Canelo vs Gennadiy Golovkin, and most recently Canelo vs Terence Crawford.
His work has featured on numerous Ring Magazine and Boxing News covers, capturing the drama and emotion of boxing at the highest level.
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Personal Note
I have a personal connection to this painting. I not only own it, but was also present at the fight in Saudi Arabia.
At the time, the experience felt like an adventure. The outdoor weigh-in was sparsely attended compared to other major events, and much of the atmosphere centred around the fighters’ hotel – intense, but intimate.
Shortly before the fight, light rain began to fall. It reminded me of The Rumble in the Jungle, where a heavy downpour followed shortly after the bout.
It’s a trip I will never forget – and this painting remains a vivid reminder of that experience.
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Artwork Details
Ruiz Jr. vs Joshua II Original, 2019 Richard T. Slone Acrylic on canvas 36″ × 40″
KOCHI: The Indian men’s football team faced fresh embarrassment on Thursday, this time even before they could take the field. National head coach Khalid Jamil and the team were denied entry to Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, the venue for India’s Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on March 31. Jamil had reached the stadium to inspect the pitch and attend a scheduled press conference, but officials of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) refused him entry.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!GCDA security staff also stopped the Indian team from training at the stadium. The team had to later train at Kerala Blasters’ training ground in Trippunithura, 10 kilometres away from the stadium. GCDA staff said they were acting on instructions from the secretary and chairman not to allow anyone into the stadium complex until the full rent and security deposit was paid by the Kerala Football Association (KFA), the host association for India’s Asian Cup Qualifier with Hong Kong here on March 31.
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KFA president Navas Meeran said, “The Asian Cup qualifier will go ahead as planned. What happened on Thursday was a minor technical problem and it will be sorted out soon,” he said.The GCDA is seeking a security deposit of Rs 25 lakh and a match rent of Rs 3 lakh. The KFA agreed to pay, but the GCDA demanded the full amount on Thursday itself, before allowing the scheduled press conference and practice session to proceed. Although the KFA asked for more time, the GCDA refused.Meanwhile, coach Jamil arrived at the stadium for the press conference and ground inspection, but after waiting for a long time at the KFA office amid the dispute, he was left with no option but to leave. Security personnel also stopped journalists from entering for the press conference, saying they had orders from higher authorities not to allow anyone in. The main gate was later locked.
The International Olympic Committee said on Thursday it was re-introducing testing for gender to determine eligibility to compete in the female category, preventing transgender women from competing. The screening will mean Olympic women’s sports from the 2028 Los Angeles Games will be limited to biological females, which would also rule out those with differences in sexual development (DSD). FRANCE 24’s Selina Sykes reports.
Heimir Hallgrimsson was left feeling only pain as the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup dream was shattered in a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out.
Ireland saw a 2-0 lead evaporate on a dramatic night at Prague’s Fortuna Arena as the Czech Republic fought their way to extra time and after a 2-2 draw, edged through 4-3 on penalties to set up a winner-takes-all clash with Denmark on Tuesday evening.
For head coach Hallgrimsson and his players, who were bidding for a first trip to the finals since 2002, it proved an agonising conclusion to a campaign which had blossomed late in the day.
Asked to sum up his emotions, the Icelander said: “One word, just pain. I feel pain, I feel pride for the performance of the players. They gave it all. I feel gratitude towards the supporters who showed up and supported us the whole game, even after the loss.
“I feel pride being a part of that group, but personally – and I know the players will feel pain now, only pain, I would say.”
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Twenty-three minutes into a pulsating contest, Ireland led 2-0 through Troy Parrott’s penalty and an own goal from keeper Matej Kovar and looked to have one foot in Tuesday’s final.
Patrik Schick’s spot-kick reduced the deficit almost immediately, but Hallgrimsson’s side were within four minutes of victory when Czech skipper Ladislav Krejci – currently playing his club football in the Premier League with Wolves – headed his side level to force extra time and ultimately penalties.
Caoimhin Kelleher saved Mojmir Chytil’s attempt to hand Finn Azaz the chance to make it 4-2, but Kovar saved his and Alan Browne’s attempts to set up Jan Kliment to complete the comeback.
For Hallgrimsson, who signed a contract extension last week, the back-to-back victories over Armenia, Portugal and Hungary which booked their trip to Prague will provide a source of optimism for what lies ahead.
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He said: “First of all, we take that with us, that we can play teams higher than us in the FIFA ranking, punch above our weight whether it’s Portugal, Hungary or here, and compete with these teams.
“We came here with three wins in a row – it’s a long time since that happened for this national team, so I think there’s growth in the squad, I think it’s maturing.
“These have been the biggest games most of these players have played, so that’s encouraging, to know that we are growing.”
Hallgrimsson and his players headed home without Derby striker Sammie Szmodics, who was carried off on a stretcher after being knocked unconscious within minutes of his introduction, but is expected to fly back to Ireland on Friday.
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Czech boss Miroslav Koubek was delighted with the outcome of his first game in charge, but admitted there was room for improvement.
He said: “I said it would be a war and it was a war.
“It was a battle indeed, but we proved that we have the right mindset.
“Obviously it was not without mistakes. It was a very raw match. It was an epic battle.”
Back in the 1980s, the aforementioned quartet were all involved in epic fights with one another, with boxing fans regularly debating who they deem to be the best of the four legends.
Just over 30 years later, Crawford became a legend in his own right, claiming world titles in multiple divisions before retiring from the sport back in December following his victory over Canelo Alvarez.
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Having now begun to settle into life after boxing, Crawford has been reflecting on his own career whilst speaking to The Ring, and was asked how he believes he shaped up compared to each of Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Duran.
“To be honest, I had a little bit of all of them. I wouldn’t say I only had one of their styles because I do so much in the ring.
“Like Marvin Hagler, I’m a southpaw. Like Sugar Ray Leonard, I can box on my toes. Like Roberto Duran, I can roll with the punches, catch, shoot, and throw from underneath. With Tommy Hearns, I can fight from the outside with a good, sharp jab.
I’m all of that in one. … [I would fight] any of them – just pick one of them.”
Kylian Mbappe’s recent knee injury at Real Madrid has taken a concerning turn, with a medical error allowing the French forward to continue playing despite an undiagnosed ligament issue.
The problem began after a knock during Madrid’s La Liga defeat to Celta Vigo last December, but an initial MRI scan was mistakenly conducted on his right knee instead of the injured left one.
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With no damage detected, Mbappe remained in action and went on to feature in multiple matches, even as he experienced discomfort, before a later scan finally revealed the true extent of the injury.
Wrong scan delays accurate diagnosis
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The issue dates back to December when Mbappe first experienced discomfort following a La Liga defeat to Celta Vigo. Club medical staff conducted an MRI scan, but it was mistakenly performed on his uninjured right knee. As a result, no problem was detected initially, and Mbappe remained available for selection.
According to a media report from The New York Times, Mbappe continued playing despite showing signs of inflammation in his left knee, which had not yet been properly assessed.
Injury confirmed after fresh examination
A subsequent scan on the correct knee later revealed a partial tear in the posterior ligament. Real Madrid officially communicated the injury on December 31, describing it broadly as a knee sprain while opting for a conservative recovery approach.
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Despite the underlying issue, Mbappe went on to play three matches after the initial incorrect scan and featured regularly in the following weeks.
Continued involvement despite discomfort
Even after the diagnosis, Mbappe remained involved in several fixtures. He played through a packed schedule, managing appearances across domestic and European competitions while his condition was closely monitored by the coaching staff.
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There were indications that his fitness fluctuated, with some days pain-free and others more problematic. However, the absence of knee instability allowed the medical team to clear him for matches when symptoms were manageable.
Managed workload under new coaching setup
Under new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, Mbappe’s training intensity was reduced, and his minutes were carefully controlled. The forward missed a short stretch of games in early March and also travelled for further evaluation and treatment.
Real Madrid maintained their stance on a conservative recovery plan, with no surgical intervention deemed necessary.
Gradual return
Mbappehas since made a gradual return to action, coming off the bench in recent matches, including key fixtures in the Champions League and La Liga.
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He has now joined the France national team for upcoming international friendlies, with his fitness continuing to be monitored closely as he works towards a full recovery.
With the Sweet 16 underway, the most tuned-into game may be No. 4 Arkansas against No. 1 Arizona. For Razorbacks’ coach John Calipari, tonight’s game is his 17th appearance in the Sweet Sixteen. If Calipari were to coach his way into the Elite Eight, it would be his 13th time reaching the stage.
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Tonight’s game also has significant value for the Arizona Wildcats. If they were to win, it would be the team’s first appearance in the Elite 8 in over 10 years, when they lost in the round during the 2015 NCAA Tournament. With Wildcats’ coach Tommy Lloyd being linked to UNC’s head coaching vacant spot, tonight’s game may be his last with Arizona if the team were to lose.
En route to tonight’s Sweet 16 matchup, the Razorbacks easily defeated No. 13 Hawaii 97-78 in the opening round, and ended No. 12 High Point’s brief Cinderella run in the Round of 32 with a 94-88 win. On the other side, for the Wildcats, they cruised to a 92-58 win over the No. 16 LIU Sharks in the Round of 64. After briefly struggling against No. 9 Utah State in the Round of 32, Arizona held strong and finished the job 78-66.
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Arizona heads into this game as 7.5-point favorites against the Razorbacks on DraftKings.
Here is a look at the box score from Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup from the Midwest Region in San Jose.
Mar 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) reacts after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates and Alex Bump each registered a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers thumped the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Thursday evening.
Samuel Ersson made 25 saves for Philadelphia (35-24-12, 82 points), which has won six of its last eight games to make some late noise in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Denver Barkey and Sean Couturier also scored for the Flyers.
Chicago (27-32-13, 67 points) remains well out of postseason contention following its fifth loss in seven games. Connor Bedard scored the only goal for the Blackhawks, while Spencer Knight did his best to combat a furious Flyers offensive performance with 37 saves.
Philadelphia scored twice in the first three minutes, beginning with Bump’s third career goal. Less than a minute after the opening faceoff, Knight turned over the puck behind the net to Dvorak, who promptly fed Bump in front for a wide-open tally.
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Just over a minute and a half later, another Chicago turnover — this time by Andre Burakovsky — led to Couturier’s ninth of the season. The Blackhawks winger passed the puck right to Luke Glendening, who sent a puck to the net that Couturier redirected for a 2-0 lead.
Barkey deposited a rebound past Knight 5:14 into the second period to make it 3-0.
Midway through the middle stanza, Bedard scored his 30th goal of the season to cut into the Blackhawks’ deficit. However, the Flyers added two more goals before the period ended.
First, Matvei Michkov’s blind pass unleashed Cates on a breakaway that ended with a backhander over a sprawling Knight. Then, in the final minute, Dvorak redirected a terrific pass from Owen Tippett into the net for a 5-1 cushion.
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Neither team scored in the final period as the Flyers swept the two-game season series with the Blackhawks by a combined 8-2 margin.
Tommy Berry has voiced his strong interest in riding the upwardly mobile stayer Soul Of Spain in the Sydney Cup, actively seeking the partnership and committing long-term through the autumn series.
This decision is paying dividends already, with the Chris Waller-conditioned gelding even-money favourite alongside others for April’s two-mile prize, and presenting a viable upset possibility in Saturday’s elite weight-for-age Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.
The previous Irish raider emerged prominently in spring via successive confidence-building wins in Queensland, followed by a win in the Newcastle Cup (2300m) and second spot in the Metropolitan (2400m).
He has turned heads with powerful late surges at his latest two starts, placing sixth to champion Autumn Glow second-up in February’s Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m), then runner-up to Vauban alone in the March 14 Sky High Stakes (2000m).
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Berry remains excited by the gelding’s displays and indicates the Tancred Stakes weights could be challenging, yet the rise to 2400m will favour Soul Of Spain en route to richer targets.
“Obviously, the step up to 2400 metres is going to suit on the way to a Sydney Cup . . . although, he’s got to meet some pretty handy horses at around the same weight,” Berry said.
“Last ‘prep’ he was doing things on raw ability when he was coming through the grades, but he is a lot more seasoned.
“Chris Waller got to travel him a little bit last preparation, up in Queensland and back to Sydney, and usually that’s very good for stayers. He has come back a more professional racehorse, and he’s got a really good turn of speed.”
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A Tancred Stakes triumph would be gratifying according to Berry, but he deems the fixture ideal seasoning for Soul Of Spain’s Sydney Cup campaign, as the five-year-old benefits from dropping to 53.5kg from 59kg in the weight-for-age race on Saturday for the handicap.
“He’s ready to take the next step and Chris always uses a method getting to his grand finals, and the race on Saturday is one he’s used previously to get his better horses to a Sydney Cup,” he said.
Discover betting sites with the best racing odds for the Sydney Cup.
One of AEW’s top stars, MJF, took aim at a former WWE World Champion on social media recently after the latter critiqued his performance on Dynamite. Now, the self-proclaimed generational talent is officially scheduled to face off with the talent in question, Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler).
For some time now, seeds were being planted for a potential showdown between Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Nic Nemeth, especially after The Wolf of Wrestling issued a public challenge to the “Most Wanted Man” to lock horns with him in an AEW World Title match this past January. Following on the heels of Wednesday Night Dynamite this week, the erstwhile Dolph Ziggler offered some words of criticism to Friedman while appearing on Busted Open. This prompted MJF to explosively lash out at the ex-WWE superstar, going so far as to call the latter an “overhyped” mid-carder.
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It appears that a showdown between the AEW Men’s World Champion and the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion is finally set to take place. The matchup will go down at Create A Pro Monumental Moment on May 1, at Melville, New York.
“. @Myers_Wrestling just hit me up and said this clowns down to throw hands. See ya there Nicky.” – posted MJF on X/Twitter.
This will seemingly be the first-ever in-ring singles encounter between MJF and the “Show-Off”.
MJF has a massive AEW title match scheduled for next month
Maxwell Jacob Friedman survived one of the biggest threats to his current World Title reign earlier this month at Revolution 2026, where he managed to retain his belt against Hangman Page in a Texas Death Match, and managed to lock him out of the World Championship picture as per the challenger’s own stipulation.
As he was celebrating his victory over The Cowboy this week on AEW Dynamite, The Salt of The Earth was interrupted and confronted by Kenny Omega, who earlier that night had become the new #1 contender for the “Triple B” by beating Swerve Strickland. The two stars exchanged words, leading to a World Title match between them being scheduled for Dynasty 2026.
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Match graphic for Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs Kenny Omega at Dynasty (Image via X @WrestlePurists)
It remains to be seen whether the so-called “God of Pro-Wrestling” will be able to dethrone The Devil this coming month.
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Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who turned 15 today, is already being counted among the most destructive hitters in Indian cricket and the Indian Premier League. His stunning 35-ball century in last season’s tournament was just the beginning, as he has continued to produce big runs and impactful innings across levels over the past year.Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise saw him make his India A debut towards the end of 2025, featuring in the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup under the leadership of Jitesh Sharma. The tournament provided him early exposure to a senior dressing room, allowing him to interact with players on the fringes of the national side and further underlining his immense potential.
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Speaking on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, Jitesh shared insights into the youngster’s journey and the bond they developed, both during their India A stint and from Sooryavanshi’s time at the Rajasthan Royals academy near Nagpur.“Today he told me, bhaiya if you say something about me then watch out,” joked Jitesh. “Very cute boy. He used to come to Talegaon for practice, where RR’s academy is. That’s where I got to know him, then we went to play in Qatar, where I was captain, so that’s where we made our bond.”When asked about the source of Sooryavanshi’s remarkable hitting power, Jitesh pointed to his natural strength, particularly his wrists.“It’s all natural power, he’s very strong. His wrists are bigger than my wrists – I gave him my watch to wear and it was tight for him,” he said, highlighting the physical attributes behind the youngster’s explosive batting.“Chhota Hulk hai woh (he’s baby Hulk),” Jitesh added, drawing a comparison to the iconic Marvel character. The description fits, considering Sooryavanshi smashed 11 sixes during his IPL hundred and has consistently relied on big hitting to dominate bowlers.Jitesh also revealed the fear factor the youngster has already created among bowlers in the nets.“He swings his bat so hard that the bowler is afraid that if he hits it straight, he might die. RR’s nets bowlers, I know them, they say that they don’t pitch the ball up because he can hit it straight back. So they bowl short balls to have him hit it away from them,” he explained.With Sanju Samson no longer in the setup, Sooryavanshi is set to take up a regular role at the top of the order for Rajasthan Royals. He will be part of a youthful batting unit featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Riyan Parag, both of whom understand the pressures of performing early in their careers.“He’s created that fear. He’s like Nicholas Pooran, lefty-lefty, very hard hitter. You have the fear that he can hit you,” said Jitesh, comparing him to Nicholas Pooran. “And Nicholas also listens to Hindi songs,” he added humorously.Turning 15 just a day before IPL 2026 begins, Sooryavanshi heads into his second season with massive expectations. Oppositions are likely to come prepared with specific plans, targeting him with short balls, slower deliveries and wider lines. How the young batter from Bihar adapts to these challenges could shape the impact he makes in the upcoming season.
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