I expect Ruiz to win again and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets rid of Joshua very quickly. But I'm not ready to totally dismiss Joshua. He has skills and he did definitely touch Ruiz a few times in their first fight. With a good game plan and discipline he might be able to pull it off. I expect Ruiz to stop him again but we might get a good fight.
I don't get these posts about how suddenly it's all a done deal and a dominant boxer suddenly becoming a gatekeeper when surprisingly stopped in a fight he was the clear favorite in. Kovalev had threads like that after Alvarez (not that Mexican ginger one) and there was much more reason to assume the rematch would end up the same because he was clearly declining. That also was a fight that suddenly turned around and never did in the rematch. I actually favor Joshua in the rematch, despite I think of him as a very probable doper that took on huge mass and muscle Holyfield style.
You have Sanders upsetting W.Klitschko and when he looked gassed against Brewster. Did not prevent him from dominating the division for a decade afterward. Joshua is not done yet.
I've got news for you..... Joshua isn't Klitschko. You keep bringing up all these past greats as if they're comparable to Joshua. They're not. Lewis and Wlad would have had Joshua out within 5 rounds in their prime. They were on another level and true champions who took on all corners.
AJ has the size, power, skill to beat Ruiz easily. But All that is negated if he doesn't have a killer instinct. Ruiz does.
Then let's focus on Ruiz. Joshua - Ruiz 1 was a huge upset. Ain't happening twice. Also money is a factor. Joshua still has a bright future while Ruiz is a one hit wonder. For how long Joshua will remain at the top only time will tell. But the confidence you put on Ruiz double upsetting and defending the unification is questionable. At worst, Joshua will get a split decision. He can't lose this.
Wlad would've fought Fury, Wilder and Ortiz. Three men tthat Joshua wanted nothing to do with in their prime. And posturing isn't wanting to fight before you come out with the rhetoric about him calling their names out in the media. When it came to signing agreements his owner put hurdles and hoops in the way.
AJ boxes and moves. Doesnt hold his longer than two punches. Holds on the inside. It is going to be a huggy fest. I would imagine he has been watching Okolipus on a loop to prepare himself. Parker wrote the blue print of how to beat Ruiz Jr. You cant allow him to get a rhythem. You need to break up his attacks and change the timing of your punches.
If he's going to huggy box he's going to look to the master of the octopus style for inspiration and not to a second rate imitator like Okoile. You've been saying AJ is to to jab and hold like Wlad for the last few fights and its never happened. He'll box like he always does against Ruiz , it he's good enough to win he'll win , if not he'l lose again. Thats all there is too it. He's not ever going to turn into Clinchko 2.0.
It's really bothering me that Ortiz has been able to establish this idea that he was being avoided. What top 10 fighters has he fought? What mandatory fights did he fight to win mandatory rights against Joshua/Klitschko etc.? There was ample opportunity for him to test himself during his prime. He chose to play it safe and fight a string of bums and remain in obscurity.
