I believe AJ`s footwork v Ruiz is being undderrated on this forum, this vid features an explanation for how AJ controlled distance v Ruiz, he`s far more nmble than most heavyweights, which other heavies would this footwork work against? He would have run rings round Miller etc. This content is protected
Someone with the reach advantage AJ had over Ruiz should be controlling the distance easily enough assuming they're of similar boxing levels. Add that to that idiot Ruiz weighing too much so having slower feet and the ring in the rematch being larger than in their first fight, you can see that yeah he did a good job with controlling the distance but it's a job he really ought to be able to do
Aj did a great job in that fight from the camp by coming in lighter and his gameplan was a great one. Im no AJ fan and cheered for ruiz jr but i have to give credit when it's due. He redeemed himself nicely in the rematch.
Yes he did and I'm like you, I was cheering for Ruiz. Parker did kind of expose ruiz when they fought and AJ followed suit in the rematch with success.
Agreed though the weight gain didn't help There were moments in the first fight where Joshua circled out of trouble and Ruiz followed rather than step to cut the ring off. I think Joshua was so shook up and tired from round 3 he never really could capitalize on it
Ruiz just wasnt hungry enough for the 2nd fight, he got his snicker deal, and had all the snickers a man could ask for.
Something many pointed out was that even if Joshua were to run all night, there was no way he could keep it up. Well he pulled off the perfect gameplan for 12 rounds and never let Ruiz get control of the fight. That type of movement and coordination is quite hard mentally and physically. This is why most tend to stand theor ground. Guys like Leonard and Manny are freaks. Heck even Floyd. It takes a lot of hard work to move that well.
True enough, his conditioning and attention span were on point that night. I think Ruiz could have done a better job of closing the ring off though, and being in condition would have helped him do that. Easy to forget how important a factor to boxing conditioning is, we get so hung up on the technical abilities of fighters at times
Lewis performance against Tua was alot more impressive. More punches thrown , more punches landed. Ruiz was walking through and eating Joshua's punches like marshmallows. He wouldn't have pressed Lennox like he did with the bodybuilder. Tua gave up because he was hurt, not because he was exhausted.