Ruiz new AJ was about to quit before the ref even called the fight

You don’t quit with body language, nobody’s body language is gonna look good after being knocked down four times, senses completely scrambled with an empty gas tank. If the ref hadn’t waved off the fight, Joshua would have staggered back in for more punishment.

Unless a fighter has clearly indicated, verbally or otherwise that they don’t want to continue, it’s pretty unfair and disingenuous to label them a quitter.

 

Have you just started watching boxing? Serious question.

 

There are ways to quit with body language - turning your back on an opponent like Qawi against Foreman or a shake of the head like Geale against Cotto. These are clear indications of a fighter not wanting to continue. Nothing in Joshua’s body language can be considered a clear indication of wanting to quit.

 

It doesn't need to be anywhere near that obvious.

 

I didn't call him a quitter, though. I clearly differentiated between 'quit' and 'quitter', and seeing as AJ was meant to have said 'yeah' when asked if he wanted to box on but the fight still got stopped, what did the ref rely on to make that decision unless it was body language? Because that body language screamed 'no mas'... that's why imho.

 

I just don’t see it (the ‘no mas’ body language), I see a hurt, gassed and embarrassed fighter but not someone refusing to go back out and fight. I can’t see anything there that tells me he was asking the ref to stop the fight.

 

Maybe not, but it needs to be more obvious than what Joshua displayed. Otherwise the sport would suffer too many premature stoppages where a fighter is actually willing to continue.

 

I see your point but respectfully disagree.

 

Joshua literally dropped to the canvas during the 4th knockdown, without even getting hit cleanly. That's a conclusive ENOUGH sign that Joshua was no longer in the fight and the referee was correct in his decision to stop the fight then and there.

If Joshua didn't want to quit and wanted to continue fighting, then how about not even going down at all in the first place? Since, you know, it was Joshua who made the decision to go down in the first place?

 

I mean that's fair enough, it's all about interpretation, and I see it differently.

But one thing I'm clear on: I don't see him as a quitter, he's gotten up way too many times for that. But I think you are right; he was hurt, gassed and embarrassed. All I add to that is I think he wanted it to be over because of precisely those reasons.

 

True technically he didn’t quit.
Just like technically he got Knock the F*** Out.
Let’s just say, when his corner didn’t respond...
he was still looking for a way out with out technically bending the knee & he found one.... thanks “Bad Santa” Ref.

 

i am a joshua fan. he lost the fight. I would agree with the body language issues! he sure as hell said he wanted to box on but his body language said otherwise. Lets be honest Joshua had never been in that position before, did he know how to react in that situation (after 4 KD's), probably not. Learning curve absolutely.

However,

His body language from the dressing room said he didnt want to fight.

I think he will come into the rematch a different person.
who knows though.

 

Mental isn't it..Body language speaks volumes in every walk of life, ESPECIALLY Boxing !

 

He was looking for special treatment

 

Spot on.