Joshua doesn't have a hope in the rematch

I'm not convinced AJ has the skill set to keep Ruiz off him. A fast combination puncher has basically exposed AJ, being able to follow up with combinations after AJ is hurt, something Wlad didn't do. Some thought just because he survived when hurt against Wlad it meant something, all it really meant was old Klit didn't have enough to exploit a winded and hurt Joshua. Ruiz also has the durability to take AJ's shots and dish out punishment in return, you could see the shock on his face at being hit multiple times. I just dotn think AJ will be able to make the adjustments needed.

 

Ruiz will beat AJ again and then it's game over.

 

Joshua had rounds 4, 5, 6, and 7 to get his head together, after the 2 knockdowns in the 3rd. He did go back to boxing on the back foot, in the middle rounds. I don't think he can take Ruiz's speed and power. That barrage of shots came from the 7th came from nowhere, and he was lifted off his feet.

 

AJ could certainly come back and beat Ruiz, I could see him employing the Klitschko jab and grab style and stinking the place out to a points victory. I could also see the pressure in the fight being so much that he unravels mentally and a similar outcome to last night takes place. The rematch is not just about Joshua fixing the holes in his game but his ability to handle the pressure when his career is on the line.

 

Watching Ruiz's hand speed, body punching, coming up with left and right hooks relentlessly reminded me of a young Tyson

 

To be honest, Ruiz probably under estimated himself how easy it was to crack AJ. He became a totally different and more aggressive fighter after scoring the first knock down knowing the guy in front of him has a glass jaw. He will be even more aggressive in the rematch. Ruiz was also counter punching AJ which was another reason AJ became so gunshy afterwards.

 

I'm almost certain in a rematch that Joshua will still be the favorite. Joshua has all the tools, and if he would have fought with some heart he'd beat Ruiz to a pulp... he took him lightly and wasn't fully into the fight. I'm not a Joshua fan at all.. but it's clear AJ ain't about this life.

If he starts caring, if he get's that hunger... I think he beats Ruiz easily... but that's a big if. I'm happy for Andy.. now he needs to at least get into some kind of decent shape. Being confused for Gabriel Igleasis is no way to represent Boxing and the HW championship.

 

It was probably already in the contract. Before he signed for 1st fight.

 

If you think Ruiz is as nearly as skilled, fast, or powerful as Mike Tyson then maybe you should stop watching boxing.

 

Um Joshua can't take a punch. No matter how hungry he is this won't change. Joshua was just never that good. Him beating old men and other ham and eggers impressive the silly Brit boxing fans and other casuals. People who actually know the sport knew he was never that good.

 

Joshua will be allowed to go back on the roids if the fight is to take place back in Britain. If that happens then Ruiz has little chance in a rematch.

 

Yeah, the hysteria on here. Suddenly AJ is a total fraud. Good thing Tyson, Lewis etc didn't fight in the era of social media. Their resumes would be absolutely shredded and their losses salivated over. I'm not even a huge fan, he's my least favorite of the old "Big 3". But he beat an ATG in an ATG fight and had 6 other successful title defenses against quality opposition. That doesn't happen by accident. A loss now, even a historically bad and embarrassing one such as this, doesn't invalidate those achievements.

 

Many things can happen in a rematch. AJ can come in more focused, careful, with a better strategy, and how is the home field advantage gonna affect Ruiz? Ruiz can also come in over confident and even heavier (weight discipline is definitely questionable). AJ had success when he was measured - dropped him with the left and then landed a huge right hand, but started trading for no reason close to Ruiz.

AJ did a terrible job keeping distance, didn't keep a high guard, or double the jab - right hand - left combos, no upper cuts, wasn't willing to let it all hang out and go out swinging. He didn't make Ruiz weary of anything, and didn't adjust when Ruiz let him recover.

Ruiz' IQ and fundamentals made AJ look 1 dimensional, not to mention hand speed and proper combo punching. Definitely not looking good for AJ in the rematch but I feel things can be corrected and he has a chance. We'll find out a lot about AJ in the rematch and if he really belongs in boxing.

 

It's hard to say if AJ will be able to heal the psychological scars from his defeat. When a fighter fails an internal fortitude check his chances of reversing the outcome in a rematch are not high.

 

Joshua should try to do what Lennox Lewis did against Tua and that‘s possibly his only chance to win.

Establish the jab and grab again, if you don‘t know what to do just go all jab and grab, especially if the fight happens in the UK, he could do a Wlad vs Povetkin homage without being disqualified.