The fact they are putting the fight on in that odious s-hole Saudi Arabia for the money should tell you something. This is a cash out by Joshua and Hearn because they know it could be there last biggie. Ruiz has the key to him and they know it.
I agree, it's a cash grab. I don't agree on the potential result. I doubt very much whether Joshua and Hearn see this as a last stand; they know full well the public appreciation of a boxer, in spite of any losses on his record, can be manipulated to their own ends. Call a card "Redemption" or something along those lines and watch the ticket sales skyrocket. I don't see the venue as a big issue. Sure, Saudi Arabia has its detractors and with good reason, but so does the USA and also with good reason. I don't know the statistics on being blown away in a mall or high school in Saudi Arabia, but I would have a hard time believing they're any worse than anywhere else.
Any fight Joshua has you can call a cash out as he bring in more money than anyone in boxing other than Canelo... Realistically they put the fight there because it's neutral ground but Joshua spends a lot of time in the middle east and it takes Andy more out of his comfort zone. Either way it should be an interesting and good fight, will see if Joshua's speed and therefore power increases now he's not as bulky, but I'm going with another Ruiz win. I don't think Joshua can fight smart enough over 12 and will get dragged into a brawl again.
Ruiz went down when Joshua hit him. If Joshua had some better training and knew how to hold he would beat Ruiz rather easily, but those Ruiz punches come fast when Joshua is being tagged and Ruiz goes with the momentum-and Joshua does not know how to block or hold when he has to. I think he needed a few more fights against maybe pesky faster guy to gain the experience. Ruiz is not like Klitchko. who was lumbering and with a jab, so Joshua could match it.
My view is that if Joshua jabs and moves, he wins easily, wears Ruiz down, and KO's him between 7 and 9. And that is what should happen, as Joshua is a better boxer than Ruiz, all the better tools, apart from one thing.....he has no ring craft. Mid round, he cannot change up to suit the fight. If Ruiz comes at him and gets through, he doesn't know how to smother him, he doesn't know how to stay out of the way when put under pressure, which makes him a sitting duck. It's easy for me to say, but as far as I am concerned, the hardest part of boxing is getting out of the way when under pressure.
Lewis was better much better than Joshua, Ruiz is much better than Rachman, it wasn't one punch either, he took a walloping
Didn't you see the third knockdown where Joshua landed some heavy jabs and Ruiz shook them off like they were nothing. Jabs are not going to stop Ruiz, he will take them all night. Joshua did quite a bit of clinching in the first fight but Ruiz worked him on the inside whilst he was doing this.
if parker can find a way to outpoint him, or there abouts, then I'm sure AJ can turn it into a boring, safe ud victory
True. But I think Parker is easier to hit than AJ if they are both boxing off the back foot. Maybe AJ will eat half the punches Parker did; and his whiskers are'nt complete glass, he's resilient to a degree; so, I think AJ can win 9/10 fights vs Ruiz with a sound, jab move type game plan.
Wrong. The real cash out will be Whyte. They could both go on loosing streaks yet would still do solid numbers. It's a big fight that will always be there for them both.
I still expect the bodybuilder to stop Ruiz in the rematch if he comes in lighter and cuts some muscle. Joshua made the mistake of trying to take the blob out too early. McKracken and his team will have their tactics in order for the rematch.
Looks like he's cut the muscle out big time from the pics I've seen of him recently. I'd love to know what his weight is currently, as he looks like he's easily in the 230 range (and likely at the lower end or even). As long as stamina has improved and his speed of punch without weakening himself too much, as it looks an almost drastic weight loss considering he's been hovering in the upper 240 range recently. Still cant help but think Ruiz beats him again though. I just dont think Joshua knows how to handle someone who can walk through him early on and can put pressure on.
