I think Atlas will push him harder than his current trainer but I think Ruiz won't change. He is even richer after 2nd fight and any fight after this is nothing compared to the top of the mountain he has already been on. I hope I'm wrong cause he is a nice addition to the heavy weight mix. I just can't see what would motivate him if the biggest fight of his career couldn't do it.
TBH this is consistent with what I've seen from him, he made a fan out of me in the build up to the Parker fight and how he performed in that - and then after he lost (JUST) he blamed everyone but himself... off that performance I had called it that he'd behave along these lines when he lost (ok, I was wrong there) in AJ vs Ruiz I, but this is pretty much the same thing. The shape he shows up to major fights is actually turning out to be the sign that his detractors make out afterall - he doesn't commit like he should, which is a damn shame as he has a heap of natural talent and a bit of a physical freak being able to take the shots he can, and throw with the speed and power he can despite being massively overweight and poorly (for a top level pro) prepared fighter. Imagine if he trained like one of the title holders?
Ruiz wants yes-men in his corner. Manny Robles is not that guy The other thing is, with poverty comes a lack of education and also good judgement skills. Ruiz lacks the savvy and real world aptitude to internally look at himself and know HOW to change. Furthermore, the thing that has carried him so far is his muscle memory and ring IQ that he crafted at a young age. Had he not have ever stepped into a boxing gym so young, he would have been Fat Joe impersontor trying jump the queue at clubs and get into the VIP lounge.
I hadn't paid a whole lot of attention to him till the aj fight, but I'm seeing shades of kovalev in the personal responsibility department. And his lack of focus and dedication is pretty obvious given his last outing.
I don't know if that is about educational level. Some people, despite the lack of much formal education, are still clearly smart. Common sense. Intuitive. Thinking individuals. Ruiz does not seem to be one of them. Maybe the answer for Ruiz is to live with someone like Atlas who monitors his every waking move. Someone who gives him tons of poop if he messes up. Ruiz would have to be up for that though. It would be as much an intervention as anything.
Yeah...bad example. I just googled Fat Joe and he seems to look like one of those Puerto Ricans trannies on a diet now
Maybe it's for the better. Robles even says in the article he appreciated Ruiz didn't blame him yet the relationship seems to have turned to dust so it seems like it is for the better. That it reached this point just six months after his monumental win, now that is anything but good for Ruiz.
If he's not the guy you thought he was, maybe you shouldn't be disappointed in him? It was one hit wonder written all over him, would you really pick him over Wilder, Usyk or Fury to somehow "validate" his single big win, that he couldn't repeat?
That is a good point. He'll have to find a different motivator other than money. That will be even more difficult because he already had belts too. Who knows, pride, legacy? Perhaps Teddy can squeeze it out of him, but you are right it will be tough once you have the view from the top.