Larry Merchant on why Joshua-Ruiz II is a bad idea

Good point. But you can’t blame Fury he went to his opponents back yard and less than full strength and put on a boxing clinic owning Wilder. Only to be ripped off by judges in a fight everyone knew he won. He should dictate the rematch. But I still believe in benefits Wilder cause an immediate rematch in that scenario would of been disastrous for him.

 

It’s not always about being dropped. Boxing is psychological and Fury embarrassed Wilder schooling him badly, was the point I was making. It really benefited Wilder to not have to go through again after he received such a lesson. Btw the count for Fury was fine to complain about that is sour grapes. You do feel Fury deserved the decision right?
Either way this is about Joshua I was just bringing up Fury slapping around Wilder for comparison. Yeah AJ got beaten up and broken down pretty good last night. His body language was poor. I don’t think he took the sustained beating that Douglas put on Tyson but I do believe he should have another bout before facing Ruiz again.

 

Bottom line, an AJ can never win against an Andy - enough said.

 

I could be wrong but AJ at least to me never had that "aura of invincibility" and he sure as hell didnt have it on the level of Tyson if he did to some. To me hes just another hw champ that got knocked out. It happens.

 

That is very true. Sanders is a 5-7 round fighter at most, but it's pure hell to go through those 5-7 rounds. He had insane speed followed by serious power. His style was all wrong for Wladimir's who was built to be aggressive under Fritz Sdunek. A rematch would have ruined him.

 

Why is everyone apart from Joshua so butt-hurt? Too many people regretting they didn't get on the gravy train before it derailed?

If Joshua decides to pull the pin the heavyweight division will implode. Outside of Fury v Wilder the casuals aren't interested and neither are the major sponsors. Can you imagine Ruiz as the face of Under Armour, Hugo Boss, Beats, Jaguar and Audemars Piguet LOL.

 

some good points!! Mike Tyson never rematched Douglas.. never thought about that.

 

“Just wait in the corner over there until I am done interviewing the A side, Mr. Johnson.”

 

Who is Wilder ducking? Joshua is the one who was ducking and he ducked right into a beat down.

 

The situation is different than in Tyson vs Douglas.

Joshua came in carrying a concussion from sparring: he basically came in hurt, and fought scared and apprehensive.

He didn't seem to have a clue how to fight to protect his chin, like Wlad learned.

He then plain quit. In boxing, the ability to take a punch is the greatest quality a fighter can have.

Tyson lost because he came in under-trained, not because his chin let him down. And he didn't quit; he came out on his shield.

Now that people know Joshua's chin is shaky, and that he's ready to give up when the going gets though, things will never again be the same for him, no matter what he does.

He's forced to rematch Ruiz immediately, because the first good fighter Ruiz faces, he loses all the belts to.

Unless he can transform in Wlad 2, Joshua will become just another has been, as contenders will come for his blood.

 

Ruiz owned AJ on the night for sure. But it is well within reach for AJ to turn things around with 5 months dedicated training for Ruiz

It's not as if Ruiz has any attributes at all which can't be overcome

 

WBA would be the first to bend over and hand Joshua a mandatory shot.

 

This is much Joshua vs Ruiz as it is DAZN/Matchroom vs PBC.

The fighters are now pawns while the big players and money men are trying to make their power moves.