Thanks mate, good to debate with you too. I just think we might have overlooked Ruiz’s steady progress throughout his career. He’s not been on our radar and also, we haven’t took him too seriously because he looks like a pudding. He’s had one very narrow disputable loss. Before that loss and after it, he was putting some nice performances together and the last one against Dimitrenko was excellent. He can be untidy to watch because he has to get in on the inside and obviously, seeing his big fat pasty skin slapping against another fighter doesn’t look great. I’m not saying he’s elite but I don’t believe Joshua is elite either. I didn’t have him on a pedestal beforehand but I believed he was very good. Joshua is meticulous and patient but he sort of has to be because he has to conserve his energy because he is incredibly explosive...and this is what i’m on about with styles being all wrong because Ruiz doesn’t let you be patient and meticulous, he gets in your face and forces you to work hard...which isn’t good when you have issues with stamina.
Joshua had the power - not sure why he felt the need to bulk up more - has only made him slower / decreased stamina. But I’d be amazed if he’s not significantly lighter for the rematch.
AJ is ruining his career bulking up so much. He'd be a much better fighter if he was faster and fitter.
Whatever may happen the 5/2 with the bookies for Ruiz to win the rematch is a fill your wellingtons job.
anyone think Hearns would be better off calling WBO mandatory and having Usyk vs Ruiz or Whyte vs Ruiz? Would give AJ time to rebuild and have a better chance of bringing the belts back to Matchroom. Although Ruiz has a good chance agaisnt either Usyk or Whyte
Joshua easily beats ruiz by wide UD or KO.. ppl on here talking as if Joshua suddenly became a trash tier fighter overnight will have to eat their words. He got careless, drastically underestimated ruiz and paid for it. Won't happen again.
He is still a world level fighter but you have to admit there are several issues of concern, his chin, his boxing IQ, stamina and finally self belief, why does Joshua need a sports psychologist ? I personally think the rematch is a 50/50 fight it could go either way, time will tell. I picked Ruiz though for the rematch and id love to see a second beating dished out to AJ.
Edited that for you. That hungry fighter in the mid rounds of the Klitschko fight, who wanted it sooo bad, hanging on for dear life, showing tremendous heart and character through adversity to somehow stay in it before pulling off an incredible knockout victory in the 11th round...he wasn’t there on Saturday. That’s what would be upsetting me if I was a Joshua fan right now. Not people like me rubbing it in on a boxing forum, but wondering why the heart and character wasn’t there. We’ll find out in the rematch if he’s got it back because if he hasn’t, that first shot that hits him in the head in the rematch will make him fold like a deckchair again.
If Joshua fought Povetkin the way he fought Ruiz he would have been knocked out just the same.. or worse. He would have been smeared all over the canvas from that deadly Povetkin left hook, but he specifically avoided it all night. Only way I can explain it is that he did not worry about Ruiz power one bit and it bit him in the ass big time.
Ruiz feet is far too slow. Joshua can easily outbox him or land bombs from range. Don't see the second fight being competitive.
Or it could have just been that he couldn't recover from that shot on the ear and was badly concussed. The lights were on but nobody was home. I prefer the simpler explanation myself but you are of course free to have your own interpretation of events...
He had several rounds to recover from the shot before the finish. If nothing else, his conditioning was appalling.
