I get mixed vibes about McCracken. With Froch and now with Joshua he has benefitted from having fighters with obvious physical attributes
Anyone that thinks McCracken had anything to do with Joshua's performance is nuts, he wanted him to keep it long, perfect advice. He was just dealing with a fighter that couldn't implement his advice !
You need legs to beat Ruiz, hes to fast hand wise to engage in combo with for the likes of Joshua..Single jabs, move, jab move, but for a big man, his gas tank will empty with to much movement(Joshua) and he'll slow down and Ruiz has his chance..He is imo a nightmare opponent for the best Joshua
Yeah lazy Joshua without a jab moves in looking for the kill, but Ruiz could just get his short punches off quicker. It's as simple as that. Without seriously working on his jab he'll get knocked out, again
even with a jab, he cant deal with a great counter puncher with balls, Ruiz when dropped got up and went for it, there isn't a single heavy around that would've chose that tactic, massive Mexican bollocks. I have nothing but the highest respect for him as a person and his skill/attributes in the ring !
Most of the videos of his I have seen, seem to be detailed analysis of boxers' bodies. It's an odd USP....
He gave him fine advice from what I could hear. Basically told him to keep Ruiz at the end of his jab and not lunge in with power shots. Can't really fault him that Joshua wasn't willing or able to do it.
When I was watching live I thought McCracken was spot on and Aj was lost in the headlights. On the re watch with hindsight on my side I think they planned for Ruiz all wrong. Aj should have been prepared to lose rounds to Ruiz and let Ruiz control the pace. Be prepared to give one to take. He had Ruiz hurt on multiple occasions, he went for the kill. That's what got him hurt. When Ruiz was heart he fought fire with fire. Aj is not used to that. He should then when Ruiz was hurt go long. In the feeling process I think AJ would have benefited from fients. Ruiz plan was to get to aj first. As soon as Ruiz went to jab he lunges in. Aj should step back with a hard straight punch followed with a hook, try and hold Ruiz head down and punish him by holding his head down and doing that nasty uppercut he does. But I don't think aj would be capable of doing them things.
What's interesting is, Holyfield had the same type of body as Joshua (albeit on a smaller scale), and yet still had the same susceptibility to body punches that Joshua appears to have.
Theyre both catch/counter styles ..very similar ...it leaves the body open more but you react to top punches faster by quicker reactions once you block or stop the opponents punch.....below the elbows are open more though.