20% - AJ keeps the distance and wins on points. Possibly split decision 20% - AJ keeps his distance and finishes Ruiz off with a flurry late on. 60% - Ruiz repeats June 1st. My 2 cents
LOL Haye was genuinely undecided in the Gloves Off debate. I personally use Freddy Roach as my anti-bellweather.
I will take Ruiz to finish the job again, if Joshua tries to move him around all night I think he will gas and slow down and Ruiz will catch up and lay those fast hands on him, if he exchanges early I think Ruiz has the better chin and composure to lay those combos more frequently, Ruiz around 8-9
This is the first prediction thread I've seen with an actual poll. I'm picking Joshua to win and here's why - Ruiz was a short notice replacement that Joshua completely underestimated. Anthony was having some success in the fight, his high point being the knockdown of Ruiz. Notice how I said some? Anthony was not having things go entirely his way, even in the first 2 rounds. This fight was shortly after Wilders highlight reel KO of Brezeale and there was talk that Joshua had to impress, especially given that his opponent looked to be a pushover to most casual viewers. So I think when Joshua knocked Ruiz down ( for the first time in his career if you can trust the internet ) he got ahead of himself. He went on to smash Ruiz with another right hand that looked like it would have KO'd most fighters and went for broke but Ruiz took it and shortly thereafter came back and the rest is history. The knockdowns Joshua suffered reminded me of Wlad against Sanders. He wasn't KO'd so much as exhausted, having finished the fight on his feet, albeit a TKO. Joshua has a good chin and his knockdowns against Ruiz haven't damaged his durability imo. Now Joshua has had a full camp preparing for Ruiz, he's hungry again and wants revenge. Feels a bit like Lewis Rahman I & II, but the difference in talent between Joshua and Ruiz is far closer, but I still believe that Joshua has the skills to beat Ruiz. Keep distance and work the left hook like Parker did. I don't think Joshua needs to dance around, he doesn't have the tank for that. Just make Ruiz pay to close the distance, then circle away, reset and do it again. Ruiz on the other hand has finally had a taste of the good life, and as he himself said post first fight " Mom, we don't have to struggle no more!". He has lost the hunger. He will be facing distractions in Saudi, doing pressers, all kinds of appearances etc that he hasn't done prior. Anthony is used to this. This will be detrimental to his focus. Watch for Andys right to the body, it's nasty If he gets that going early Joshua will have a very hard time. I've been wrong many times and it won't bother me one bit if I get this one wrong too, and you will have no trouble finding me after the fight. Joshua has his flaws for sure and Ruiz is no slouch. * gasps for breath * Plus I have Teddy Atlas, world famous pugulistic prognosticator in my corner! Need I say more?
Picking AJ to win but would not be shocked if Ruiz won. Why I'm going for AJ is he knows he's fighting Ruiz from the off & not Jarrell Miller.