When he lost to Douglas Tyson was quoted as saying "lets see how long he can keep the title", he wasnt wrong was he. It takes more than one great night. Joshua might have a few things missing but one thing he has down is the discipline for the sport. To rebuild like that and have a vision from day one of the defeat, then accomplish that goal, thats impressive. I felt he was all hot air, and he does talk some rubbish, but the fact is he has shown he has substance, streghth of mind. I cant stand matchroom, Hearn and the hangers on but I have a lot of respect for AJ after this I have to say.
Agree...disgraceful from ruiz. Tbf to him....he does have a heart of a lion....took his licks last night and kept coming forward. Let himself down badly in the training camp tho. To be completely honest cant see ruiz getting back on track now. Seems like a guy that cant help but self sabotage. Hes spent a career being overweight winning the title only made him get worse if anything. Wasting his career tbh because ruiz can actually fight. Hes a natural at it. But the way guys like joshua prepare....you cant afford to come in at 283 and cut corners like he did. Needs to rebuild now....the problem is with having a taste of money ruiz will go back against someone decent to get paid well and end up losing again. Embarrasing asking for the third fight afterwards....no andy....this was your big oppertunity. How he can chuck it away like he did...i,ll never know.
Yep I agree that Ruiz is probably done now. He may have a comeback fight one day if he blows all his money on fast food.
Ruiz is the same age James Douglas was when he won the lottery and then ate and partied away his belts. Both also gained 15lbs prior to their first defence. Douglas disappeared for 6 years before coming back after that. If Ruiz, the allegedly very proud first Mexican world heavyweight champion couldn’t get beneath TWENTY STONE for the very first defence of his belts then it’s over. He’s just had another reported $15m deposited into his account. He’s richer than ever and once the disappointment eases, less motivated than ever.
You're right AJ is the consummate professional and he deserves credit for his work ethic, attitude, and discipline. The Judge who awarded him community service in 2011 pretty much saved his life and that was his sliding doors moment. There is no denying though that the powers that be heavily manipulated the promotion and kept the truth about Ruiz hidden. I remember after the weigh-in going on YouTube and searching for footage of Ruiz training for the fight and outside of a couple of brief clips of him firing fast combinations of the pads there was nothing. The crazy thing about Ruiz is he is probably the most naturally talented heavyweight of all the current crop but as others have said I cannot see him changing. His greed was evident in the post-fight comments and like Riddick Bowe, Ruiz probably has contractors installing a kitchen in his bedroom with its own revolving door.
I knew as soon as the weigh in the the fat **** hadn't taken it seriously, all this speculation about it being on purpose or him having weights on was just nonsense. He won the lottery and was given money that would guarantee his life in the rematch, he clearly had no motivation to actually exert himself. Ruiz you could tell thought winning in Saudi would just be a bonus to the already great riches he had been given. He was still grinning like a Cheshire cat after the fight, and the fact he wanted a third fight again in Saudi tells you where his motivation lies. Ruiz will probably beat up 3/4 lower tier fighters now and then get the trilogy fight or a shot against someone else in 2021 before cashing out for good. AJ did what he had to, won well and I have no criticisms of his performance. There was no point him taking an additional risk in trying to get the KO and leave himself open.
Yeah, poor from Ruiz. I didn't think it would make too much difference but his feet were definitely slower and AJ's definitely quicker. Only one of them looked to be willing to put the extra work in.
I think we have to give credit to Joshua for this. He really could have lost his motivation for more success with the astronomical bank balance he’ll no doubt has. As you point out, Ryan, other fighters have fallen by the way side when they’d achieved their dream and money...the great fighters (or any sportsmen) of the past have gone and done it again and again. Joshua’s hunger shows no sign of diminishing, that’s even after getting starched in June and all the inevitable stick he got with it. He does my nut in at times with him being a walking talking cliche’ spouting rubbish, but you have to acknowledge his hunger and desire to achieve more in the sport. When he gets beat again, I can see the same happening again where he comes back to try and win it again.
Andy's Dad talking about how out of control he was. No real camp, living it up with that bunch of dudes who he's always being filmed with. Not one of them seeming to have the brains they were born with. This content is protected
Bags of skill, excellent fundamentals and a real fighters heart in the ring. He’s got all the ingredients to mix it with the very best....but he’s p***ed it all away. Such a shame. I don’t believe June 1st was a fluke, it was a hungry, dedicated, focussed fighter in there. Not sure we’ll ever see that mentality from him again though.
I was really annoyed with him and more so in the post fight interview where he ought to have been red faced saying those words. I like Andy, the different style, combos and his come forward attitude was giving us something new. What's made it worse is that his Dad said that even for the first fight he was overweight and that was due to short notice, so fair enough on that one, but if they wanted weight to come off from him from 262lb then he gets to the big night at almost 290? I mean, it's just disbelief, head in hands time.
