Ruiz V Joshua 2

So will the crowd.

 

He was fit enough to box on and as mentioned above, perhaps win a round. I think a more seasoned, intelligent pro would've hung in there. Hugged and made it ugly if need be. Ring IQ, stamina and punch resistence were clearly the real issues and the concussion was obviously the final nail in the coffin. It's also been the excuse to cover up the ring IQ, stamina and punch resistence issues.

 

I saw an interview with The Undertaker last week. He got concussed early in a WrestleMania match with Brock Lesnar a few years back. He says his last memory of that day is about 3pm in the afternoon and then only remembered his own name the next day in hospital.
Despite this he completed the match and most observers wouldn’t have a clue about what had gone on.
Brain injuries are a very complex business.

 

The centrepiece is almost in and it looks incredible. We get chance to do the fighters walk to the ring and it feels like you're heading into a Gladiator Ring. Amazing.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/11876627/ruiz-jr-vs-joshua-2-stadium-tour

 

Yea that is impressive. This is gonna be epic.

 

Did they say they are dismantling the whole thing after the tennis? Wow.

 

Watching the fight back as it’s on Sky again, AJ looks very very nervous in the ring walk. I think he’s a bit mentally frail but that it’s only come on in the last couple of years.

 

I don't get this lucky punch crap, how can a professional boxer throw a lucky punch? If he'd been knocked out by a taxi driver he could say that but there is no such thing as a lucky punch in top level boxing, that is what they do.

 

The aim of boxing, and the allure of heavyweight boxing more than any other division, is to render your opponent unconscious. So for team AJ team Matchroom to use “getting concussed” as an excuse for losing is akin to a football team using “conceding three goals and scoring none” as a mitigating excuse for losing.

Which makes me wonder if the loyal sky supporters would parrot that narrative in football as readily as they have this one in boxing.

Levels of absurdity.

 

I've no opinion on Mcracken, other than prior to the Ruiz fight there was a vid of him working with AJ on the pads. He was saying things like "Look at that power - who can take that power!" and AJ smiling as he was saying it. Then Andy comes along and takes it and gives it back. I didn't understand why McCracken was filling AJ's head with that sort of thing.

 

Leaning towards AJ stoppage. No logic or reasoning to it mind and I’ll probably change my mind 5 times before Saturday

 

"Signage and visible promotion in the country's capital city is so far minimal"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/50636242

Take from that comment what you will.

 

Blimey AJ looks a lot smaller than I expected from the weight loss from some videos today, almost weak looking, could be the camera angle maybe...

 

Watched ruiz v dimitrenko last night. Dimitrenko a big bloke...not near joshuas level tbf but has a few stylistic similarities with joshua. Throws straight shots ..one, twos etc...tried to fight ruiz similar to how joshua did...on the outside....with the jab etc....how a taller guy usually fights a smaller guy. Ruiz pretty much done to dimitrenko what he did to joshua without the knockdowns. Broke him down to the point the jab of dimitrenko was completely ineffective. Different levels but good showing that it wasnt just quite down to a lucky shot. Ruiz being slightly overrated atm....but he is actually very good and a difficult man to fight with that style. I still say the best way to beat him with joshuas style is by pushing him back and outfighting him. He,ll break you down on the outside unless you,ve the movement of say fury. Or something to discourage him coming forward like wilder. He seems to like joshuas style tho.