To be honest with you, I don't think that I would ever have got over him losing to Ruiz. This wasn't just a contender who was a missive underdog, it was a man who didn't belong in the ring with him. Obviously it helps his case that eh avenged the loss to Ruiz, and beat another contender.
Joshua actually is a good fighter. Of course because of Saturday, he will now underrated. He has enough skill and physicality to decision old Foreman. He's much better than Briggs, Stewart, and Morrison, and unlike Evander or Moorer has the reach to not play the old man's game.
Given what has happened in the space of a little over two years and four bouts, would you entertain the idea that Joshua has been somewhat overrated?
Well - it depends on how highly one rated Joshua going into either of the Ruiz I, or Usyk bouts, beforehand. For me, the pendulum doesn't have enough potential energy to swing too far in any direction, at this point. In the current climate, Joshua is still a force but, should he choose to fight on another few years, you'd have to wonder how and where his career might go. If he has actually reached his ceiling, in Usyk, and he goes on to lose the rematch, then he could be out of the running altogether, unless he's prepared to fight the loser of Fury/Wilder, perhaps. Failing that... ... ... ... ...
I have a feeling that both Joshua and Fury, will rue the day that they didn't just bin a belt, and fight each other!
Yeah, when you get out-boxed by Tommy Morrison and Briggs (I score that one for Geo.), you know your limit. Joshua is a decent fighter. I believe in his prime Foreman backs Joshua up (like Mercer did to Lewis) until he can't. It's one fight where I see Joshua having the superior gas tank and taking over. Old Foreman Joshua probably out-boxes, but Foreman was there to be hit. Joshua would probably break him down. Old Pulev >>> Old Foreman.
That's not fair. Ruiz was being undersold. Honestly, the dude is his own worst enemy. I hope we can all agree on that. Is he on Fury or Usyk's level? NO. But he is a skilled big man with a solid chin. Fluffy was being glossed over by the media.
I think Fury just imagine it was like desert at a restaurant. You just assume it will be there. The waitress will offer. You'll pretend to be too full. She lists the specials. You play down how excited you are. Then concede that it might not hurt to share with you wife. And well what do you know, it's good enough that you both want one. That was Fury's thinking. Joshua would be kept a virgin by Eddie Hearn, and Fury would pop that cherry whenever he damn well pleased. I do think he thought Wilder would decline the rubber-match. I still cannot believe Wilder is doing this to himself. Sure, to be a fighter you already have to be crazy. But wilder is suicidal. I won't mind if Fury really does do him in. It seems to be what Wilder wants.
It's the problem with being a popular fighter, some people just have to hate you. I feel that's Joshua's curse. Same with McGregor. The haters relish when the popular fighter suffers. Joshua is good. Not as good as British fans wanted him to be, but the dude is very skilled and controlled for a big man. He also has heart. He's not a human hurricane like Fury, but he's good. He's better than Ali was in Kanshasa.
Obviously Ruiz was undersold, but the bottom line is that he was not rated in the top ten, and his record doesn't look impressive without the Joshua win. Joshua would probably have been criticized for choosing him as a title challenger, had he not been a last minute substitute.