Ruiz lasts the distance.

Could be possible. We said this kind of thing in the Parker fight..that Parker would come forward all guns blazing. And yes the referee played a part in that not happening but it wasn't all down to him.

It depends how Ruiz approaches it. If he tries to overcome that size and reach by sitting back and boxing smartly, then maybe it does last the distance. But if he comes forward as we expect, he's going to get countered and when he does, he's in trouble.

I've just seen AJ on youtube at the workout and he looks far improved to me, nothing suggests to me that Ruiz will cause any problems with this version of AJ. He's just too good. Earlier in his career, Ruiz might have held his own. But not now. No chance.

 

Povetkin is far better than Ruiz and got blasted, no way is Ruiz going to be able to land like Pov did.

 

Parker kept AJ off with a good counter jab, Ruiz doesn`t have that kind of ability.

 

Povetkin at his is best was a better fighter than Ruiz, but when he fought Joshua he was 39 years old and started looking his age by the 5th round, so Ruiz’s youth could play a factor in him going the distance. However, if Joshua doesn’t pace himself this could turn into an interesting fight, since I could see Ruiz slipping a lot of Joshua’s punches on the inside and giving Joshua a tough time if he’s been diligent with his training.

 

Ruiz's only chance is if this becomes an inside close up fight. Otherwise he will get wrecked.

 

AJ will stop Ruiz.

 

He is going to knock him out in the 5th or 6th. He can’t finish him too early but he must look good and he knows.

 

I'll be surprised if Ruiz goes the distance. While his defence isn't horrible he's not had to contend with a fighter with an arsenal like Joshua. I can't help but remember Tor Hamer landing clean shots on him again and again before Hamer quit. Ruiz is going to need a chin of pure iron to go the distance.

 

Legitimately if it goes to the cards Andy should win a ud. He might get caneloed though.

 

I’m interested in seeing how Joshua responds when he takes 5 hard bodyshots a round.

 

Yes he will....in a hot dog eating contest

 

AJ will stop Ruiz with a body shot, I saw him do it to quite a few fat guys in the amateurs

 

Two things that make an otherwise pretty rudimentary title defence a little more interesting:

1. Ruiz, because he fought in April, has had an extended fight camp. For someone who appears less than dedicated to his fitness, this could be a positive influence on how the fight goes for him.
2. Wilder's show real KO and the fact this is Joshua's American debut means he will have to be less risk-adverse than in recent fights and go looking for a spectacular stoppage, which could give Ruiz more openings than he would have got in front of 90,000 sheep at Wembley.

But I see this adding up to a more competitive 6-8 rounds rather than a shock defeat...